Local News

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck 77 miles Coos Bay about six and a half hours following the Great Oregon Earthquake drill. The tremor was recorded on Thursday afternoon at 4:58 pm local time, at a shallow depth of 6.2 miles below the surface. The event was filed by the United States Geological Survey, the first seismological agency to report it. A second report was later issued by the German Research Centre for Geosciences, which listed it as a magnitude 4.9 earthquake. A third agency, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, reported the same quake at magnitude 5.0. Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter. Weak shaking might have been felt in Bandon (pop. 3,100) located 76 miles from the epicenter. Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Coos Bay located 77 miles from the epicenter.

 

On Wednesday the Medford Police Department Domestic Violence Task Force participated in the 21st Annual National Family Violence Warrant Sweep. The Department worked with agencies throughout Jackson County, as well as agencies across the country, to arrest persons with outstanding family-violence related warrants. Locally, 15 arrests were made during the sweep, on a variety of charges. 23 total Law Enforcement Personnel Participated along with 4 Victim Advocates assisted with victim services. 73 warrant services were attempted with 15 attempts successful that resulted in arrests.This nationwide collaborative effort helps raise awareness of the problem of family and domestic violence in our communities. It also demonstrates to offenders that they will be held accountable for their violence. The Medford Police Department is dedicated to holding those who commit domestic violence accountable. MPD employs a full time Domestic Violence Officer along with hosting an in-house Domestic Violence Advocate employed by Community Work

 

The Great Oregon Shakeout Earthquake drill was conducted this morning as part of a global earthquake drill which involved more than 500,000 Oregonians, including individuals, families, schools, and businesses. Participants pledged to drop, cover, and hold on, wherever they are and whatever they’re doing.The Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Pacific Coast, which has the potential to generate a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake and a resulting tsunami.OEM’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program encourages all Oregonians to:
• Be informed about hazards in their area.
• Develop an emergency plan for themselves and their loved ones.
• Build an emergency kit with at least two weeks’ worth of food, water, and other essentials.
For resources on earthquake and tsunami preparedness, Living on Shaky Ground is available for download on OEM’s website.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a 39-year-old woman for assault, theft and use of a weapon after she allegedly attempted to steal a can of alcohol from a business at 790 Southwest 6th Street. The initial call to Police was at 10:30 Wednesday night that a lady was attempting to steal from the store. According to the Police narrative, an employee followed the woman out of the store and confronted her. The suspect, identified as Jennifer Susan Condon, refused to pay and the store owner intervened to have her return the merchandise. Condon, while still in possession of the merchandise, used bear mace to spray the store owner. Condon left on foot on ‘M’ Street headed toward Bridge Street. She was eventually located in the U.S. Bank parking lot, and during a consensual search, the beverage was in plain view at the top of her purse.

 

Grants Pass 911 received a call reporting a possible intoxicated driver in a white GMC lifted truck weaving all over the road at 11:27 Wednesday night on the Redwood Highway near Ringette. The caller then state they had just witnessed him rear end another vehicle. The caller also stated she had seen him drinking a Pacifico Beer at the Grants Pass Parkway and ‘M’ Street. The GMC then pulled into the parking lot of the Dairy Queen. The responding officer reported the pickup driver displayed several signs of impairment and admitted to drinking several alcoholic beverages. He also stated his girlfriend had been driving, which she later advised she was the passenger. The driver immediately requested legal representation, so a search warrant was applied for and granted. The man was arrested and lodged in the County Jail on charges of Recklessly endangering, reckless driving and driving under the influence. He remained in Custody Thursday morning.

 

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze Watch from 2 a.m. Friday morning through 11 a.m. Friday morning. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 25 degrees are possible in California, the Shasta and Scott valleys, the lower Klamath River valley, and the Mount Shasta region. In Oregon, the Rogue, Applegate, and Illinois valleys. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Citizens are advised to take precautio

 

Josephine County Deputies arrested an alleged female car thief Wednesday. At 3:37 Wednesday afternoon a 911 caller told dispatch the woman who stole his vehicle in September was back and sitting on the front porch. He advised she usually has a 9-millimeter handgun in her purse or backpack although no weapon was mentioned in the report. Deputies were dispatched to the 300 block of Ponderosa Lane. The caller was advised to call back if the woman left or if she became aggressive, but to stay separated. At 4:25 she was reported to be in custody. The woman, identified as 34-year-old Cynthia Alicia Smith, was transported and lodged in the County Jail on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

 

Oregonians have become all too familiar with the need for emergency preparedness due to various hazards, including earthquakes, that remain a top concern, especially given the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Pacific Coast, which has the potential to generate a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake and a resulting tsunami.To help Oregonians prepare, Governor Tina Kotek is encouraging residents to learn and practice safe actions to take during an earthquake. This morning at 10:17 a.m., the Governor and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management invite all Oregonians to join the statewide and national earthquake drill. This drill will simulate the response to an earthquake with the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” method for 60 seconds:Drop onto your hands and knees.Cover your head and neck, and if nearby, crawl under a sturdy desk or table.Hold On until the shaking stops.The Great Oregon ShakeOut is part of a global earthquake drill taking place at 10:21 a.m., which will involve more than 500,000 Oregonians, including individuals, families, schools, and businesses. Participants pledge to drop, cover, and hold on, wherever they are and whatever they’re doing. OEM’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program encourages all Oregonians to:
• Be informed about hazards in their area.
• Develop an emergency plan for themselves and their loved ones.
• Build an emergency kit with at least two weeks’ worth of food, water, and other essentials.
For resources on earthquake and tsunami preparedness, Living on Shaky Ground is available for download on OEM’s website. Hard copies can also be obtained at local county and Tribal emergency management offices.

 

The Jackson County District Attorney has filed a myriad of charges against a hit and run driver involved in a fatal accident. The afternoon of Oct. 11th Medford Police Department responded to a fatal hit-and-run involving a vehicle and a bicyclist on South Pacific Highway. Prior to the collision, witnesses had called to report the vehicle driving erratically. Officers were responding to that report when the vehicle was reported to have drifted out of its lane and struck the bicyclist. The driver did not stop but rather continued into a nearby parking lot where Police Officers quickly located it and contacted the driver. Despite officers' immediate attempts at life-saving measures on the bicyclist, 41-year old Jimilee “James” Thomas, was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel.
The Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team was activated and was able to determine that the driver of the vehicle, 36-year-old Cassie Jane Cavagnaro, was believed to have been ingesting an inhalant just prior to the accident. The white van Cavagnaro was driving left the roadway striking Thomas, who was legally operating his electric bicycle in the south-bound bike lane of S. Pacific Hwy. Cavagnaro then fled the scene and was contacted nearby. She was lodged on a probation violation at the Jackson County Jail, and Wednesday she was charged with manslaughter in the 1st & 2nd degree, DUII – Inhalant, Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Hit and Run – Felony.