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…
Author: Tony Cooper
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.…
In a normal election year in any given state, hundreds or even thousands of absentee ballots get tossed for everything from late postmarks to open envelopes. North Carolina rejected 546 ballots for missing witness signatures in the 2012 presidential race. Virginia tossed 216 ballots in the 2018 midterms because they arrived in an unofficial envelope. Arizona discarded 1,516 ballots for nonmatching signatures the same year. The 2020 presidential election will not be normal. Absentee ballot rejections this November are projected to reach historic levels, risking widespread disenfranchisement of minority voters and the credibility of election results, a USA TODAY, Columbia…
Jackson County Public Health reports 65 new cases. This update brings the total reported COVID-19 cases in Jackson County to 4,769. Jackson County Public Health reports one new COVID-19 death; this update brings the total COVID-19 deaths to 49. Jackson County’s 49th COVID-19 death is a 68-year-old male who tested positive on December 5 and died on December 11th at Providence Medford Medical Center. The patient had underlying conditions.
Oregon took its part Monday, Dec. 14, in the every four-year ritual of casting the state’s electoral votes for president and vice president. Like most states, there were no surprises as the seven people chosen as electors — all state Democratic Party officials — voted for Democrat Joe Biden as president and Democrat Kamala Harris as vice president. The 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires separate votes for the offices. They did so at a meeting that lasted less than 30 minutes in the Senate chamber at the Oregon Capitol in Salem. It might have been just like any…
A donation drive event for wildfire relief at Human Bean locations in Jackson and Josephine counties raised more than $64,000 last Friday, the coffee company says. Human Bean set aside all food and beverage sales on Friday, September 25 for the ACCESS Fire Relief Fund. Between sales and donations, the company raised $64,623.26. “The Human Bean has a long history of giving back and supporting our local community, and right now our community is seeing an unprecedented need for assistance,” the company said in a statement. “We are pleased to help make a difference for those who have been affected recently…
The clearing of Hawthorne Park began on Tuesday morning, as Medford Police followed up on a 24-hour notice that campers would need to leave. At 8 a.m., officers and clean-up crews from Medford Parks arrived to close down the park and clear out those who remained. “Pursuant to Medford Charter Section 18(3)(e), the City Manager has ordered the closure of Hawthorne Park for at least 48 hours to allow for sanitation, cleaning, and inspection of City property,” MPD said in a post, referring back to the 24-hour notice posted on Monday. The agency said that by 11:15 a.m., officers had…
What do fish sing during the holidays? Christmas corals! Have you resolved to be more eco-conscious this holiday season? Transition San Juan Island and Plastic Free Salish Sea can help! Check out the ideas below to reduce waste and lighten your carbon footprint in some of the major holiday categories. Gifts This time of year is often focused on gift-giving. Why not emphasize experiences with gift certificates? Or helping others with a charitable donation? If you must buy gifts, shop local and cut down on shipping and packaging. And when you’re done shopping at our local shops, make sure you…