The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– Occasional rain or drizzle before 11am. Patchy fog before noon. High near 57. Light and variable wind becoming east northeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday– Rain before 7am, then showers, mainly after 7am. Snow level 3600 feet lowering to 2800 feet in the afternoon . High near 47. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday– Showers. Patchy fog before 11am. Snow level 2000 feet. High near 43. South southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday– A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before 11am. Patchy fog between 10am and 11am. Snow level 2400 feet. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 45.
Saturday-Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 48. Breezy.
Suspect With BB Gun Arrested After Attempted Robbery at Jerry’s Home Improvement Center
Authorities have arrested a suspect after an attempted robbery at the Jerry’s Home Improvement Center on Highway 99 on Saturday.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office said Eugene police located and arrested Nicholas Sammut, 32, on Monday morning.
Sammut allegedly attempted to steal items from the store right around closing time, and when employees confronted him, he reportedly drew what appeared to be a handgun and pointed it at the person. “No, I am taking this,” he said, according to deputies.
The man was identified as a suspect after authorities reviewed security footage, deputies said.
Police tracked Sammut down at a Safe Spot Community shelter on Highway 99, about a mile from the store. He has reportedly been a resident there for the past several weeks.
Sammut was taken to the Lane County Jail on charges of second-degree robbery, menacing, unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree theft.
Following his arrest, authorities reportedly found a black BB gun that resembles a real firearm.
Oregon State Police Detectives seeking public assistance in shooting death on Hwy 38-Douglas County
On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at approximately 1:30 PM, Oregon State Troopers and Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a medical assistance call on Interstate 5 near milepost 153. Officers learned a male had been struck by a bullet while driving on Hwy 38, west of Drain.
The male victim, Larry Eugene Mell (72) of Cottage Grove, was transported to Mercy Hospital in Roseburg, then transported by air ambulance to Riverbend Hospital in Springfield. In the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 1, 2021, investigators learned Mell, did not survive his injury. The Douglas County Major Crimes Team was activated to assist in the investigation. The Douglas County Major Crimes Team is comprised of members from the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, the Oregon State Police, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Roseburg Police Department.
The area between Putnam Valley Road and Roaring Camp Lane on Hwy 38 is where investigators believe the victims red, 2003 Ram 2500 4-door pickup with a black ladder rack was struck by gunfire. Detectives don’t believe there is an ongoing threat to the community at this time and are looking for any additional witnesses or information that can help with the investigation.
Investigators are asking anyone who was recreating in the area on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 or has specific information that might be helpful to call the Oregon State Police at 1-800-442-2068 or OSP (677). Please reference OSP Case #SP21-335049. — Oregon State Police
Ducks Announce Interim Head Coach
The Ducks have made a move with their head coaching vacancy. Oregon announced on Monday afternoon that Bryan McClendon would become its interim head coach for their matchup against No. 16 Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.
The move comes hours after former Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal announced his decision to accept the head coach position at Miami, his alma mater.
Athletic Director Rob Mullens touched on the interim head coach position earlier on Monday saying, “To your direct question, I’m trying to get an understanding of who’s going with Mario immediately. And once I have that, we will have an interim coach in place, and I shared that with both the student-athletes and the support staff… Some of those folks that you mentioned are still on flights and traveling so I haven’t been able to talk directly with all of them, but that’ll be up to them to announce.”
The University of Oregon Athletics Department released this statement on the promotion of McClendon from WR coach to interim head coach: “We appreciate Coach McClendon agreeing to accept a leadership role in providing the best possible bowl experience for our student-athletes,” Mullens said. “His previous experience as an interim head coach is valuable for our program as we prepare for the Alamo Bowl, and we are grateful for his willingness to step up and assume this responsibility for Oregon football.”
McClendon began his coaching career at Georgia in 2007 as a graduate assistant. Soon McClendon began coaching wide receivers, his current position at Oregon and stayed at Georgia until 2015. McClendon served as interim head coach for Georgia in that 2015 season.
From there, McClendon left Georgia for another SEC school. McClendon became the co-offensive coordinator and WR coach for South Carolina before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2016 under head coach Will Muschamp. McClendon spent two years as offensive coordinator at South Carolina before being hired at Oregon.
Oregon reports 2,041 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 25 new deaths
There are 25 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,268. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported 2,041 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 396,501.
The 25 new deaths and 2,041 new cases reported today include data recorded by counties for the three-day period between Dec. 3 and Dec. 5.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (7), Benton (69), Clackamas (214), Clatsop (18), Columbia (32), Coos (41), Crook (9), Curry (3), Deschutes (190), Douglas (84), Harney (4), Hood River (8), Jackson (111), Jefferson (17), Josephine (77), Klamath (11), Lake (7), Lane (132), Lincoln (20), Linn (115), Malheur (3), Marion (127), Morrow (6), Multnomah (351), Polk (22), Tillamook (18), Umatilla (11), Union (7), Wasco (11), Washington (276), Wheeler (2) and Yamhill (38).
Oregon reports 1,041 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Dec. 3, 596 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Dec. 4 and 404 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Dec. 5.
Due to delayed reporting, a large volume of approximately 7,000 backlogged electronic laboratory reports (ELRs) were received on Dec. 3. Results were from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. As a result, test counts and case counts are higher than anticipated for Dec. 3.
Armed Suspect Shot And Killed On I-5 near Portland After Spree of Crimes and Carjackings
Authorities say an armed suspect was shot and killed on Interstate 5 Monday by Portland police after a spree of crimes, including robbery and carjackings.
Portland police first responded to what they believed was a home invasion robbery Monday morning, authorities said. During the robbery, the suspect stole the victim’s vehicle and fled, according to police.
Within the next 30 to 40 minutes, the suspect appeared to commit several other carjackings, police said.
Officers located the suspect, who drove onto Interstate 5 southbound — the wrong way.
According to authorities, the suspect got out of the vehicle and attempted another carjacking, shooting one of the car’s occupants in the process. Police said the victim is recovering in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Rose Roberts, a 30-year-old woman who lives in an encampment near the highway, told The Oregonian that she heard three or four gunshots and saw what appeared to be a family — a man, woman, a young child, and an infant in a car seat — running from the freeway.
Police then shot and killed the suspect, authorities said. “This is a complex investigation involving the use of deadly force,” Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said on Twitter .
Portland, like many cities across the United States, has seen a staggering increase in crime this year. The city broke a 34-year record for homicide numbers earlier in 2021, surpassing the most violent year in Portland’s modern history. Interstate 5 was closed in both directions and police said there was no further danger to the public.
State Housing Agency Accidently Sends Bad Checks To Oregonians Seeking Emergency Rent Assistance
The Oregon Housing and Community Services department sent out hundreds of bad checks bearing incorrect routing numbers to Oregonians seeking emergency rent assistance.
Delia Hernández, a spokesperson for the state agency, said there was an accounting issue with one batch of checks, and that the routing numbers were missing a digit. Hernández said the agency issued 468 checks with incorrect routing numbers. As of Friday morning, 173 of the checks had been cashed, but 295 hadn’t.
“Many people were able to cash the checks if the bank verified it through the ‘Positive Pay’ process,” Hernandez said, referring to a system many banks use to identify fraudulent checks. “We are reaching out to the affected tenants and landlords individually with information on how to cash the check or get it reissued if needed.”
Carl Benda, a Portland-based property manager who manages about 60 properties across Oregon, said his company has received about 10 checks through the Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program since mid-November that he was unable to cash with his bank.
He said the checks came from Public Partnerships LLC, a contractor Oregon Housing and Community Services hired in August to help the state tackle its backlog of rent assistance applications.
Benda said he tried to call the phone number listed on the check and also contacted Public Partnerships LLC directly, but didn’t receive a response. He also tried emailing a staff member at Oregon Housing and Community Services, who said the agency would look into the issue. But Benda said he never heard anything more after that.
”It’s just the latest in a litany of snafus,” Benda said.
While Benda said he understands the state is trying to deliver an unprecedented amount of rent assistance in a short period of time, he said the lack of communication or acknowledgement from the state about the mistake was frustrating. He said he wants to know when the problem will be corrected and he can expect to receive new checks.
Hernández did not say how long it would take for people to receive new checks. She said those who have received bad checks can call 844-378-2931.
The agency had just stopped taking applications for emergency rental assistance last Wednesday, after announcing that it had already spent or allocated all of its $289 million in federal emergency rental assistance.
The agency reports it has sent rent aid to 23,155 households so far and has pledged assistance to another 3,265. It has received nearly 56,000 completed applications.
Gov. Brown announced last week she would call a special session of the Oregon Legislature to address preventing evictions for renters over the winter.
That session, set to begin Dec. 13, will largely focus on extending evictions protections for those who have applied for rental assistance, paying landlords for the rent they’re owed, and allocating additional rental assistance to support low-income tenants throughout the winter. Brown said she also hopes to devote about $100 million to long-term renter protections.
UPDATE: Medford Plane Crash
An investigation continues after a plane crashed into an auto dealership in Medford, killing at least two people. The crash at Airport Chevrolet happened Sunday night.
The plane was a Piper PA-21-350. The dealership was closed at the time of the crash and no one on the ground was injured. The National Transportation Safety Board is on scene today. In all, over 20 vehicles at the dealership were destroyed.
Update December 6th, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.The Medford Police Department had previously confirmed one fatality, the aircraft pilot. But the FAA’s incident notice lists two — one flight crew and one passenger.
The Medford Police Department are working with the Medford Fire Department, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). We can confirm two people were on the plane when it crashed and they did not survive. Next of kin have been notified. They are identified as:
Pilot: Sefton, Donald Harbert, 69 years old. He had an address in Fallon, Nevada.
Passenger: Serpa, Valorie Jean, 67 years old, also of Fallon, Nevada.
Further media inquiries can be directed to NTSB Senior Aircraft Accident Investigator Zoe Keliher. Phone: 310-589-0808. Email: zoe.keliher@ntsb.gov
Prior Press release from December 5th, 2021 below.
On December 5th, 2021, at about 4:52 p.m., several Medford Police officers and rescue personnel responded to a plane crash in the parking lot adjacent to Airport Chevrolet, 3001 Biddle Road. Initial information indicates one person was on board the plane when it crashed and they did not survive. It is not believed anyone on the ground was injured. The plane involved is reported to be a 9 passenger propeller plane. Medford Fire and Rescue has the scene under control at this time.
Pacific Power Blue Sky renewable customers turn holiday lights green throughout Northwest
Community lighting festivals glowing with commitment from Blue Sky renewable energy participants, providing more hope and less carbon. In addition, Pacific Power is supporting a wide range of local community events this season
Local holiday celebrations — from Prineville’s Christmas in the Pines to Medford’s Winter Lights Festival, to the 100,000 lights adorning downtown Lebanon — will help illuminate the importance of renewable energy this season, thanks to Pacific Power’s Blue Sky renewable energy program participants.
Pacific Power also supports seasonal community events throughout the areas it serves such as the Small Business Shopping Saturday in Yakima, the Toppenish Holiday Light Parade and the Rogue Winterfest in Grants Pass. Learn more at Making Spirits Bright (pacificpower.net)
Throughout the Northwest, 14 Pacific Power communities will have the power used by their local lighting celebrations matched with renewable energy. Overall, community lighting programs are being supported with almost 225 megawatt hours of Blue Sky renewable energy. That amount of renewable energy reduces the carbon footprint of these community lighting displays by 313,993 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2e), which is the environmental equivalent of not driving the average car more than 353,412 miles, which is a bit more than a trip to the moon.
“Bringing light to the holidays has been part of Pacific Power’s involvement in the communities we’ve served now for more than a century,” said Cory Scott, vice president of customer and community solutions for Pacific Power. “With the growing commitment to renewable energy throughout the region, we’re proud again this year to ‘green’ these traditional festivals, helping light the season with more hope and less carbon.”
Customers can find out more about Blue Sky renewable energy by calling Pacific Power at 1-800-769-3717 or by visiting www.pacificpower.net/bluesky .
Communities greening their holiday lighting displays this year include:
- Albany
- Astoria
- Cannon Beach
- Corvallis
- Cottage Grove
- Dayton, Wash.
- Grants Pass
- Josephine County
- Lebanon
- Medford
- Portland
- Prineville
- Redmond
- Seaside
- Umatilla
- Yakima, Wash.
About Pacific Power
Pacific Power strives to promote innovation and works with customers and communities to increase the visibility of renewable energy generation technologies through education and community outreach. Pacific Power is headquartered in Portland and provides electric service to 770,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. As part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power provide 2 million customers in six western states with reliable, efficient energy. The company works to meet growing energy demand while protecting and enhancing the environment.
Gov. Brown Orders Flags to be Flown at Half-Staff to Honor US Senator Bob Dole
Governor Brown on Monday ordered that all flags at Oregon public institutions be flown at half-staff to honor veteran and former US Senator Bob Dole, who died Sunday at the age of 98. The order to fly flags at half-staff is effective immediately until sunset on December 9. After fighting and receiving serious wounds during WWII, Dole received the Purple Heart twice and two Bronze Stars with an oak leaf cluster for his service.
Dole served for 27 years as a US senator from Kansas, including two stints as the Senate majority leader, and made an unsuccessful run as the Republican presidential nominee against Bill Clinton in 1996 — his third attempt at the White House
Intel Trying to Rebuild its Business
Intel’s new chief executive told an audience of Oregon business leaders Monday that the state’s economic fortunes are tied to the future of his industry, pitching a $52 billion federal aid package that would fund new computer chip factories and research.
Intel is Oregon’s largest corporate employer, with 21,000 workers at its factories and campuses in Washington County. It’s the company’s largest site anywhere, but no Intel CEO had made a public appearance in Oregon in more than a decade before CEO Phil Gelsinger’s address Monday.
Intel is trying to dig out of a decade of manufacturing failures under Gelsinger’s predecessors, a miserable stretch that cost the company its technological leadership. Two Asian companies, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
Co. and Samsung, now make the most advanced chips.
Gelsinger, hired in June, has committed tens of billions of dollars to new factories and research in hopes Intel can
claw its way back into the technological race. He’s counting on several billion dollars from the CHIPS Act to offset the company’s costs.
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