THEY’RE KEEPING TABS ON A WANDERING BEAR THAT’S BEEN SPOTTED BETWEEN EAST MEDFORD AND PHOENIX. A KMED LISTENER TELLS US HE SPOTTED THE BEAR YESTERDAY ON THE EAST SIDE OF FOOTHILL BLVD JUST PAST DELTA WATERS. IT’S BELIEVE TO BE AN OLDER BEAR WITH BAD TEETH, AND HAVING TROUBLE GAINING WEIGHT. NO REPORTS OF IT BEING AGGRESSIVE BUT WILDLIFE OFFICIALS SUGGEST STEERING CLEAR IF YOU SPOT THE BEAR.
MEDFORD POLICE CITED AND RELEASED A 55-YEAR OLD WOMAN VERY EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING WHEN THE CAR SHE WAS DRIVING STRUCK AND SNAPPED A POWER POLE ON EAST MCANDREWS NEAR THE MALL. OFFICERS SAY THE WOMAN WAS INTOXICATED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL TO TREAT HER INJURIES. CREWS REPAIRED THE POLE AND POWER LINES LATER IN THE MORNING AND THE ROAD WAS REOPENED.
ANOTHER CAR CRASH SHORTLY AFTER 3AM TUESDAY SENT A PEDESTRIAN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY 62 OVERPASS AT I-5. INVESTIGATING OFFICERS CONCLUDED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WASN’T AT FAULT.
A NUMBER OF SPOT FIRES BROKE OUT TUESDAY AFTERNOON ON I-5 MILE MARKER 77 NEAR WOLF CREEK. NEWSWATCH 12 REPORTS OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY CREWS TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS PUTTING OUT THE FLAMES AND MOPPING UP. CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
TODAY JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT CLOSES THE BASEMENT SECTION OF THE JAIL DUE TO COST-CUTTING MEASURES. THE JAIL NOW HAS 62 FEWER INMATE BEDS, WHICH WILL SAVE ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR. WHAT’S TO BLAME? INFLATION, RISING INMATE MEDICAL AND OPERATING COSTS AND HIGHER EMPLOYEE SALARIES.
SPEAKING OF WHICH THE MINIMUM WAGE GOES UP 50 CENTS TODAY IN JACKSON AND JOSEPHINE COUNTIES TO 15.55 PER HOUR.