Jackson County Public Health on Wednesday reported the region’s 26th death attributed to coronavirus, as new cases of the virus continue to mount. Public health officials said that the latest death was an 86-year-old woman. She tested positive on November 6, and died on November 22 at “her residence” — likely a long-term care facility. The presence of underlying medical conditions is still being confirmed, Jackson County said. Based on Jackson County’s ongoing data from outbreaks at long-term care facilities, the 86-year-old probably died at Avamere Three Fountains, which reported nine deaths attributed to COVID-19 as of Wednesday — one…
Author: Tony Cooper
Grace Cascade Christian Schools will be offering in-person classes this coming fall. According to a letter sent Cascade Christian parents students will have the option to return to school. They will also have the option to do comprehensive distance learning. With the recent revisions to school metrics regarding reopening schools, the Oregon Department of Education says that some private schools in rural areas now have the potential for in-person instruction. This includes Grace Cascade Christian Schools. The schools say that they are complying with Covid-19 guidelines set for Oregon small businesses and nonprofits, since school is considered both a small business…
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon announced Tuesday a record high of 54 coronavirus deaths, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,214 people. The Oregon Health Authority also recorded 1,129 new confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 96,092. State health officials said a surge of cases in November contributed to the high number of deaths reported Tuesday because of delays tallying death certificates in some cases. The grim news comes as Oregon hospitals prepare to administer the first COVID-19 vaccines to health care workers. Legacy Health and Oregon Health & Science University in Portland and Saint Alphonsus Hospital in Ontario are among…
Since this morning, voter turnout has made a significant jump. Officials say it went from seventy-point-three percent to seventy-four-point-seven.
Parkside Cafe is just one restaurant that’s having to adjust to Governor Brown’s new metrics of Jackson County’s two-week pause. The owners say they hope it’s only going to be for two weeks, and won’t be extended. Co-owners Kathy Artoff and Tami Westfall purchased Parkside Cafe together back in May, and since the pandemic started they’ve had to adjust to the rapid change in metrics. They say they don’t see what two weeks is going to change, and if it weren’t for their customers they wouldn’t have even known about this pause. “You wouldn’t know, nobody tells businesses anything, we knew…
A podiatrist in the Medford area pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday for forging prescriptions that he used to “feed his personal addiction,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. 60-year-old Patrick Code pleaded guilty to one count of Obtaining Possession of a Controlled Substance through Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception and Subterfuge. According to court documents, Code wrote prescriptions in the names of fake patients or unsuspecting relatives between June of 2016 and May of 2019, using them to get the opioid drug tramadol and the seditive zolpidem (Ambien) from pharmacies on behalf of the “patients.”…
Between waste from gifts and gift wrap, single-use dinnerware, and energy-wasting Christmas lights, the holidays tend to be a notoriously wasteful time of the year. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Green Matters spoke with Lauren Olsen, the Sustainability Expert and Zero Waste manager of World Centric, a company focused on compostable foodservice ware and packaging, for tips on celebrating the holidays sustainably. Article continues below advertisement Stay tuned for Olson’s words of wisdom, to ensure you’ll be rocking around the Christmas tree this holiday season in the most mindful and responsible way imaginable. Although most of us think of The Grinch…
The Medford School Board approved purchase of Cobblestone Village off North Riverside Avenue for Central Medford High School’s future home, as the Medford School District prepares to convert its present building into a third middle school. “I’m thrilled about the property that we found,” said Cynthia Wright, board chair. “It will be a wonderful environment for an alternative school.” Purchase of the 2.7-acre property will cost the district $3,050,000 before renovations begin to prep the retail and restaurant site to serve students. Most of the cost can be covered with funds from district reserves, said Brad Earl, Medford School District’s…
Public health officials in Jackson County reported two more deaths attributed to coronavirus, as ongoing outbreaks at local long-term care facilities continue to result in fatalities. According to Jackson County Public Health, the patients were a 72-year-old woman who tested positive on October 26, and an 82-year-old man who tested positive on November 2. Both died November 21 at Asante Rogue Regional in Medford. While the man had underlying health conditions, the presence of other conditions is still being confirmed in the woman. The two latest fatalities bring Jackson County’s total to 25. As of Tuesday, outbreaks at a handful…
Medford police are searching for a man behind an unusual robbery attempt at a Dairy Queen last week, in which the robber pulled his shirt up over his face while demanding money and claiming he had a gun. The incident occurred at 9:21 p.m. Sept. 17, at the Dairy Queen on West Main Street in Medford, said Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau. Three employees were in the restaurant at the time. The man reportedly walked in with his shirt pulled up over his face, his arms retracted through the shirt sleeves. “Basically walked around, tried to get attention of some of the employees,” Budreau said. “He…