As the statewide two-week freeze ended on December 2, Jackson County entered precautions under the Extreme Risk guidance. In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community, City Hall and the Lausmann Annex will be closed to the public until further notice. While we’re closing public access to our facilities, we aren’t shutting down operations. We will continue to provide essential services to our community. Signage will be posted at all building entrances with contact information. Meetings with City staff will be by appointment only. All Board, Commission and Committee meetings will be held virtually. Continuing Essential Services Essential services…
Author: Tony Cooper
A Jackson County grand jury Thursday indicted Brenden Rex Stansell, 20, for second-degree murder in the stabbing death of 23-year-old Matthew James Joseph Stephens last week in the Elderberry Flats area near Wimer, according to a press release issued by the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. The grand jury heard from four witnesses, including three Jackson County Sheriff’s Office detectives, before deciding on the single second-degree murder charge in the Sept. 18 homicide, according to the indictment filed Thursday by Deputy District Attorney Lucy Durst in Jackson County Circuit Court. Stansell is scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon, records show. He is being held in the Jackson County Jail without bail.
From cards to candles to wrapping paper, there are many different ways to reduce your environmental footprint during the holidays. Live Christmas trees can be planted after the holiday season is over for a reminder of past years. Cards made from recycled paper can be mailed to friends and family. Christmas isn’t the only time wreaths can be displayed
Class may not be in session right now but staff for the Medford School District are making sure their students are well-equipped for the future. Medford School District tells NEWSWATCH 12 they have been talking about opening up a new middle school for quite some time now. By 2021 it will become a reality. “That’s the way to work is this building is going to become our third middle school it will open in the fall of 2021,” Dr. Bret Champion, Medford School District Superintendent said. Then the other two middle schools McLoughlin Middle School and Hedrick will become full…
Jackson County Public Health reports 63 new cases of the Coronavirus. Health officials report a previously reported case has been removed from the total case numbers. These updates bring the total reported COVID-19 cases in Jackson County to 3,303. Four new COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths to 23 in Jackson County. Thanksgiving will be different this year, because of the pandemic. Public health officials want to remind the public of holiday and winter gatherings, their advice to follow: Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household (who are consistently taking measures to reduce the spread…
Days after the first round of doses arrived in Portland and other cities, Oregon hospitals will begin vaccinating healthcare workers, as well as residents and staff at long-term care facilities, against COVID-19 Wednesday. Once that initial group has been inoculated, though, it’s unclear who will follow. Like those in dozens of other states across the country, officials with the Oregon Health Authority haven’t unveiled their full vaccination plan. They hope to do that in January. One factor, among many, they’ll have to weigh is age. Data released this week by the OHA shows Oregonians in their 20s, 30s and 40s…
Last week Air Tanker 60, a DC-7B (N838D), completed its last season as an aerial firefighting machine. On October 14 it departed from Medford, Oregon when the contract with the state of Oregon ended. Tim Crippen, who took these photos as it left, said it gave a wing wave to the tanker base as it passed by en route to Madras, Oregon. The aircraft, serial number 45347, was manufactured in 1958. It is powered by four 18-cylinder Wright TC18EA radial engines, each weighing 3,700 pounds with a displacement of 3,350 cubic inches. A lot of people will miss the sound…
The recent southern Oregon fires have left thousands of people displaced and in need of food. One group estimates that 42,000 people were displaced during the evacuations, with 4,000 left homeless with an immediate need for shelter and food. Nearly 70 percent of families at several local schools lost their homes. Rogue Food Unites is one of many organizations that is providing meals to those in need. They are able to do so by partnering with local businesses and organizations. William Snyder is a chef and owner of Curbside King who has teamed up with Rogue Food Unites. Before having the support…
A man faces a string of felony charges accusing him of attempting to set fire to an east Medford home and attacking a woman with a knife and a blunt object, leading to a SWAT team surrounding the house in a standoff turned manhunt. Jeffrey Aaron Moore, 25, was arrested Wednesday on assault and attempted arson charges, accusing him of trying to set a fire before sunrise in the 2200 block of Crater Lake Avenue and later attacking a 61-year-old relative with a knife and hammer, according to Medford police. At about 5:54 a.m. Wednesday, a person passing by the home witnessed a small…
Gear up for some fun in the snow! We’re now offering Forest Explorers: Winter Ecology for third- through fifth-grade students. Join The Environmental Center to learn about winter ecology. We will explore different habitats, identify animal tracks, have fun with science — and of course, play in the snow! We will have your child(ren) in a stable learning pod of ten and will be following all COVID-19 guidelines. Location: Skyliners Lodge — 16125 Skyliners Road, Bend Date: Every Wednesday, January 13-February 24 (Excluding February 3) Time: 11am-3pm Cost: $45 per child, $85 for siblings Note: The program will be mostly outdoors.…