Jefferson Daily News

The Eugene Emeralds and City of Medford have ended discussions over a proposed Minor League Baseball stadium at Hawthorne Park. The decision follows months of debate over downtown redevelopment, public investment, and an alternative site at Harry & David Field.

A 60-year-old hunter missing for more than 72 hours in the remote wilderness near Prospect was found safe Wednesday. The search brought together crews from Southern Oregon and Northern California, with aircraft, K-9 teams, and dozens of community volunteers joining the effort.

The discovery of ammunition in a restroom at Mazama High School prompted a precautionary security response Monday. Klamath County deputies and school officials conducted searches as investigators worked to determine how the ammunition ended up on campus.

A 71-year-old woman died Friday evening, November 6, in a single-vehicle crash on Robertson Bridge Road in Josephine County. Deputies say the westbound vehicle crossed into the opposite lane, left the roadway, and overturned in a ditch. The driver, identified as Dawn Burton, was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.

Ashland police executed search warrants at 99 China massage parlor and a neighboring residence on November 6 following a three-month investigation into suspected illicit activity and possible human trafficking. Two female employees were arrested on licensing-related offenses. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking to commute the death sentences of 548 prisoners, potentially clearing the state's death row. Nearly 400 cases will require California Supreme Court approval. The decision follows a 2019 execution moratorium and has drawn sharply divided reactions from victims' families, prosecutors, and death penalty opponents.

Hollywood actor and comedian Tom Arnold brings his “My Crazy X-Wife” comedy tour to the Ross Ragland Theater in Klamath Falls on Saturday, November 7. Known for his roles in Roseanne, True Lies, and numerous television and film productions, Arnold will share stories about relationships, fatherhood, and life in Hollywood.

Christina Klauda, 53, of Riddle, Oregon, pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud and tax charges after admitting to a nine-year embezzlement scheme targeting her former employer, Tower Timber Services. Prosecutors estimate losses exceeding $1.08 million through manipulated payroll, duplicate payments, and unauthorized checks.

Oregon’s record-breaking 2026 fire season has officially ended after more than 2.5 million acres burned across the state. From the East Evans Creek and Fielder Mountain fires west of the Cascades to the Wrights Spring and Picture Rock fires on the east side, Southern Oregon experienced its share of a historic and demanding wildfire season.

Oregon Tech celebrated the opening of its $4 million Kip Thomet Memorial Fieldhouse on November 3 in Klamath Falls. The 8,500-square-foot indoor training facility was funded entirely through private donations, led by a $1.2 million gift from Glen and Sherry Thomet in memory of their son, Kip, who died in 2019.

Klamath County deputies arrested Sean Oroake, 32, on November 3 following a months-long investigation. Deputies served a search warrant in the 5000 block of South Etna, seizing evidence related to the investigation. Oroake was lodged at the Klamath County Jail on six counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse I and an Assault III charge from Douglas County.

Downtown Klamath Falls café A Leap of Taste is expanding to Klamath Community College, with a tentative soft opening November 17. The new location in Building 4 will serve sandwiches, breakfast items, baked goods, and specialty coffee Monday through Friday, with plans for a comfortable seating area in early 2027.

Josephine County deputies arrested Wayne Patrick Baker, 37, following a reported hatchet robbery at Shop Smart in Cave Junction on November 1. Authorities say Baker threatened a store employee, stole more than $1,000 in merchandise, and fled on a bicycle before striking a patrol vehicle during an attempted escape. Six charges have been referred for review.

A Klamath Falls man was arrested October 29 following an investigation into suspected online child exploitation that began in May 2025. Johnny Long, 64, faces three counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree after investigators examined digital evidence seized during a residential search and presented the case to a grand jury.

David Michael Somers, 42, was sentenced to five years in prison following his conviction on three counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon with a Firearm and one count of Menacing. The charges stemmed from a July 21 shooting outside Spirits World in Medford. The sentence is among the first imposed under a new Jackson County District Attorney's Office firearm prosecution policy.

A Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office sergeant seized 99.64 pounds of methamphetamine during an October 22 traffic stop in northern Yreka. Juan Collado Penazola, 44, of Washington state, was arrested on drug-related charges. The seizure came one day after deputies discovered 2,254 pounds of illegal marijuana inside a U-Haul trailer on Interstate 5.

A two-alarm fire at an apartment complex on East 9th Street in Medford displaced eight residents and damaged four units on October 29. Firefighters rescued two cats, and nearby painters helped alert residents to the danger. Investigators believe the fire began on an exterior balcony, but the cause remains undetermined.

A Jackson County grand jury has determined that Ashland Police Officer Alex Vela was legally justified in shooting Phillip Battaglia, 36, during an October 26 confrontation on A Street. Newly released evidence details the encounter, including two shots fired, body-camera footage, and statements made to investigators. Battaglia faces five criminal charges.

A Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office sergeant discovered 2,254 pounds of illegally transported marijuana inside a U-Haul trailer during an October 21 traffic stop on Interstate 5. The driver, Omar Jacob Gonzalez, 36, was arrested and booked into the Siskiyou County Jail on marijuana transportation and possession-for-sale allegations.

The 2026 fire season has officially ended across ODF-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties after 166 days. Firefighters responded to 210 fires that burned approximately 17,220 acres, while 95% of incidents were held to 10 acres or less.

Two separate crashes in Josephine County on October 26 left one man dead and two others injured. Brent Smith, 54, died after his pickup rolled down an embankment near Murphy. Hours later, a fiery head-on collision in Wolf Creek injured two people and led to the arrest of Arthur Espinoza, 40.

A shooting Monday evening at the Holliday Motel in Klamath Falls left 25-year-old Ethan Kammerer hospitalized in critical condition. Klamath County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Zander Snider, 25, on assault and weapons-related charges as the investigation continues.

An Ashland Police officer shot and wounded a knife-armed suspect early Monday morning after responding to a business alarm on A Street. The suspect was transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center, and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation.

A major fire at Pacific Seafood along Newport's historic bayfront prompted widespread evacuations, a hazardous-materials response, and assistance from firefighters across Oregon. Most evacuations were lifted Sunday evening as crews made progress controlling the blaze.

The South-Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership has officially ended the 2026 fire season in Klamath and Lake counties. Seasonal fire restrictions have been lifted, including in the Klamath River Canyon, but certain outdoor burning requirements remain in effect.

Medford Police joined regional law enforcement agencies in a domestic violence warrant sweep on October 14, resulting in 22 arrests and 28 warrants cleared. The operation also connected four victims with support services.

A small equipment fire at Klamath Union High School was contained Thursday afternoon after school staff used a fire extinguisher to prevent the flames from spreading before firefighters arrived.