JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. – From March 6 to 10, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office led a multi-agency operation aimed at increasing public safety through comprehensive sex offender compliance checks and the apprehension of individuals with outstanding warrants. The operation, known as Operation Sentinel, was carried out in collaboration with several local, state, and federal agencies. The primary focus of the operation was to ensure that sex offenders were in compliance with their registration requirements, with a particular emphasis on those who had failed to register, absconded, or were repeat offenders. Additionally, the operation targeted individuals with outstanding felony and misdemeanor…
Author: Sarah Prescott
GLENDALE, Ore. – A Wolf Creek man is in jail and facing a manslaughter charge after his 11-year-old daughter was killed in a motor vehicle crash Monday afternoon. According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO), deputies responded to the crash around 1:30 p.m., which occurred on Oregon Department of Forestry land bordering the 1200 block of Tunnel Road in Glendale. DCSO says three juvenile girls were inside a Ford F250, driven by Ian Anthony Fleming, when the crash occurred. The pickup truck reportedly rolled multiple times down an embankment, ejecting all three girls. Fleming escaped the pickup on his…
ILLINOIS VALLEY, Ore. – The Upper Illinois River Watershed Post-Fire Restoration Project is in its final stages after nearly a year of work. The project, which began in April 2023, focused on replanting and remediating land severely impacted by the Slater Fire, which ravaged the area in 2020. A coalition of local organizations, including the Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District (IVSWCD), the Illinois Valley Fire Resiliency Oversight Group (IVFROG), and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), have collaborated to restore 74 acres of land in the Illinois Valley. John Bellville, District Manager for the IVSWCD, spoke about the…
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The Klamath Falls Police Department (KFPD) has made an arrest in connection with a series of recent burglaries in the city. The arrest comes after an ongoing investigation that began earlier this month. On March 2, officers responded to a suspicious incident report at Riy’s Market, located at 4237 Greensprings Drive. An employee had noticed personal property outside the business, prompting the call to authorities. Upon arrival, officers discovered that the market had been burglarized. This led to the initiation of an investigation. Three days later, on March 5, officers responded to an alarm at Tyler’s…
Medford, OR – On Sunday afternoon, March 9, a fire broke out at a manufactured home in the 2600 block of Glory C Road. The fire was reported by a concerned neighbor who observed smoke and flames from the front of the residence. The neighbor immediately verified that no one was inside the home before calling 9-1-1 to alert authorities. Firefighters arrived swiftly at the scene and found the structure engulfed in smoke and flames emanating from the front of the home. The first engine crew quickly began suppressing the fire, which was primarily contained to the living room and…
KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. – A suspected drug dealer is behind bars following a significant drug bust near Klamath Union High School. Thomas Walter Anderson, 58, was arrested Wednesday by the Basin Inter-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (BINET) after being under surveillance by law enforcement. According to the Klamath Falls Police Department, BINET officers had been monitoring Anderson and his activities before moving in for his arrest. Authorities say Anderson gave consent for both a search of his person and his hotel room. Upon conducting the search, officers discovered a half ounce of fentanyl, individually packaged for sale, in addition to methamphetamine…
Medford, OR – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek introduced a new proposal on Monday aimed at addressing the state’s struggling public education system, following disappointing results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in January. The assessment revealed that Oregon’s fourth graders had some of the worst math and reading scores in the nation, ranking fourth from the bottom. During a press conference, Kotek outlined House Bill 2009, which would require the Oregon Department of Education to study the adequacy of the state’s public education system. The bill is part of a broader effort to reform how Oregon assesses and…
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — As tax season rolls around, many local residents face the daunting task of navigating the often complex and confusing world of tax filing. However, for those with limited income, a nationwide program is providing valuable assistance to ensure they don’t have to face the stress of tax season alone. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax preparation services to individuals and families with an annual income of $67,000 or less. In Jackson County, the program is managed by United Way, in collaboration with the Teresa McCormick Center, and it aims to provide low-income…
KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. — A Klamath County man has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after being convicted of multiple sex crimes involving children. Richard Travis Carlson, 52, was found guilty in February of eight counts of first-degree sodomy, with the crimes spanning from 2018 to 2023. The victims, all under the age of 12, were assaulted on separate occasions, prompting the jury’s decision to convict Carlson on all charges. The lengthy sentence is one of the longest ever imposed in Oregon for crimes of this nature, with the prosecution emphasizing the severity of…
MEDFORD, Ore. – A section of Foothill Road, from Coker Butte Road to Dry Creek Road, will be closed to all through traffic beginning Friday, March 7, 2025, at 6 p.m. The closure, which is expected to last until Friday, March 21, is necessary for repairs to a failing culvert. According to Jackson County Roads and Parks, construction crews will be working around the clock during the first weekend of the closure to minimize the disruption and shorten the overall closure period. Motorists are advised to find alternate routes during this time. The repair work is part of ongoing efforts…