Jefferson Daily News

A child exploitation investigation that began overseas led federal, state, and local authorities to serve a search warrant at a Medford residence Wednesday. Investigators seized digital devices and are working to identify a suspect.

Longtime Klamath Falls broadcaster Rob Siems will retire from full-time duties at Basin Mediactive in December after 39 years in radio. Siems has spent 32 years with the company, including 20 years as general manager, while remaining a familiar morning voice on KLAD.

Recent rainfall and unseasonably cool temperatures have pushed fire danger down to moderate across ODF-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties. Fire season remains in effect, IFPL stays at Level 2, and outdoor debris burning is still prohibited.

Two drivers were seriously injured in a head-on crash on West Griffin Creek Road after a 2025 Toyota RAV4 crossed into oncoming traffic. JCSO says the 34-year-old driver was later arrested for DUII after a blood draw showed a .20% BAC.

Medford Police have identified the two people arrested after an armed robbery investigation led to a pursuit north on Interstate 5. Sharlene Elizabeth Paul, 49, and Cody Katcheech, 36, now face charges tied to the Walgreens robbery and Tuesday’s chase.

Three novice hikers from Roseville were rescued from Mount Shasta after becoming lost in Mud Creek Canyon during a nighttime descent. One suffered a knee injury, and officials say the group had relied on AI, YouTube, and AllTrails while planning the climb.

ODFW is seeking public comment on an ODOT request to waive fish passage requirements at an unnamed Bear Creek tributary near OR 99 and South Stage Road. The proposal would shift mitigation work to habitat restoration and another culvert project within the watershed.

A sudden burst of wind lifted a bounce house during a memorial celebration at Klamath Commons, injuring several children. Six-year-old Lilly Gailey was flown to Portland for surgery as families begin recovering from an afternoon that changed within seconds.

A Medford armed robbery investigation ended with a pursuit north on Interstate 5 after officers located the suspect vehicle near Sage Road and Highway 238. Spike strips stopped the SUV near Grants Pass, where the occupants were taken into custody.

Black bears are showing up across more Ashland neighborhoods as scarce mountain berries push animals toward easier food sources. ODFW says bears have been reported getting into garbage and backyard chicken coops, while residents are being urged to remove attractants and report sightings.

A Medford man faces federal charges after investigators say they recovered nine firearms and homemade silencers from his residence. Prosecutors say the case later expanded to include alleged threats against a witness and an explosive device detonated in a vehicle at the witness’s home.

Medford Police say two men are now facing charges in connection with an August drive-by shooting on Carnelian Street. Investigators used video evidence to identify a suspected vehicle and later developed probable cause linking Phillip Muradanes and Joel Caswell to the shooting.

Klamath Falls Police Department has welcomed a new K9 team as Officer Zach Cardoza and 15-month-old Belgian Malinois Titan begin serving together. The pair completed six weeks of intensive training, and Titan is trained in criminal apprehension and narcotics detection.

Mt. Ashland Association has named Rachel Canada as the ski area’s new general manager. Canada brings more than 20 years of mountain operations and resort management experience and will lead Mt. Ashland as it prepares for chairlift replacement projects and continued growth beyond the winter season.

Twenty-seven days after the Wrights Spring Fire ignited, the 55,134-acre fire is now 90% contained with no measurable growth in 48 hours. Crews are pulling equipment, repairing roads and dozer lines, and working through the last stubborn pockets of heat.

Cycle Oregon Rally 2026 is bringing hundreds of cyclists through Grants Pass, Jacksonville, Ashland, and the surrounding Rogue Valley. The five-day, non-competitive event combines paved and gravel routes with live music, community connections, and a mission that reaches well beyond the ride itself.

The Wrights Spring Fire has reached 55,134 acres and 75% containment on its 25th day. Crews are pushing mop-up deeper into the perimeter, expanding suppression repair, and releasing personnel and equipment as confidence in containment continues to grow.

A protest outside the Josephine County Courthouse turned physical Wednesday as a protester and counter-protester grappled in the roadway. Videos capture the confrontation, while the two sides dispute what happened beforehand. No arrests had been publicly confirmed as of Friday afternoon.

A 54-year-old man was killed in a shooting Thursday night in Klamath Falls. Police say the investigation led to multiple search warrants and the arrest of a 46-year-old man on charges including second-degree murder.

A vegetation fire behind Home Depot in Klamath Falls grew to about a half-acre Thursday afternoon, with flames estimated at 20 feet high threatening nearby homes and vehicles. Firefighters contained the blaze as gusty winds, very low humidity, and extreme fire danger affected the region.

Klamath County Fire District 3 has voted unanimously to end its ambulance service, citing costs that insurance billing does not cover. The former service area will be divided among Chiloquin, Klamath County Fire District 1, and Basin Ambulance, with longer response times expected in some areas.

Firefighters from Medford Fire, Jackson County Fire District 3, and Jacksonville Fire Department knocked down a large structure fire Wednesday evening in west Medford. Crews faced water supply challenges, and West Main Street was temporarily closed during the response.

The Wrights Spring Fire is now 55,133 acres and 65% contained as crews deepen mop-up, repair roads and dozer lines, and stabilize areas affected by suppression work. Staffing has dropped to 667 as resources are gradually released for other fires across the region.

Eagle Point Police Chief Jim Hamilton will resign Sept. 7, citing philosophical differences with city administration. Meanwhile, two labor groups representing police officers and other city employees have unanimously voted no confidence in City Administrator Aaron Prunty and HR/Finance Director Melissa Owens.

Firefighters have closed the last open edge of the Wrights Spring Fire near Swan Lake Point. The fire is now 54,492 acres and 55% contained as crews expand mop-up, remove hazard trees, repair roads, and restore areas affected by suppression work.

A 39-year-old White City man died Tuesday night after becoming unresponsive during a Jackson County sheriff’s DUII arrest near Table Rock Road and Orr Drive. Medford Police is leading the outside investigation, while autopsy and toxicology results remain pending.

Jacksonville businessman Joel Caswell has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for tax evasion, employment tax crimes, bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He was also ordered to pay nearly $1.2 million in restitution to the IRS.

A witness pulled a pilot away from a burning aircraft Thursday morning after the plane crashed near Hill Road and Crystal Springs Road in Klamath Falls. The pilot suffered major injuries and was transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center.