PacifiCorp Pays $575 Million Oregon and California Wildfire Settlement
PacifiCorp has agreed to pay $575 million to resolve the United States’ claims for damages resulting from six wildfires in Oregon and California. The four Oregon fires are the South Obenchain Fire, which began on September 8th, 2020, east of Eagle Point and burned 14,780 acres of federal land, the 242 Fire near Chiloquin, the Archie Creek Fire near French Creek in the Umpqua National Forest, and the Echo Mountain Complex Fire near Otis. The two California fires are the Slater Fire and the McKinney Fire. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the settlement resolves the United States’ claims that PacifiCorp’s electrical lines negligently started all six fires. The settlement monies will help repay the United States for the substantial costs it incurred fighting the fires, a critical move now that U.S. Forest Service spends more than half of its budget on wildfire suppression annually.
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Colleen Martin and Gary Richardson Appointed to BCC
The Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers have chosen who will fill the Commissioner vacancies. After tabulating the scores of all nine interviews, Josephine County Commissioner Position Two will be filled by Colleen Martin, and Position One will be held by Gary Richardson. A motion to accept the tallied results passed unanimously. Pending background checks, both will be sworn in to the positions Monday the 23rd. A new chair of the board will be elected at a later date.
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JCSO Search and Rescue Recovered Deceased Man on Wagner Butte Trail
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies responded to a report of a deceased man near the summit of the Wagner Butte Trail outside Talent. On Sunday at approximately 3:30 p.m., the individual was located at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet in steep, mountainous terrain. The decedent is identified as Michael James Beagle, 63, of Central Point. Detectives investigated and determined the death was the result of a medical event. No suspicious circumstances were observed and there is no further investigation. The recovery required JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) deputies and volunteers to respond in challenging conditions, including snow, ice, high elevation, and an approaching winter storm. Teams worked until after sundown to help ensure other hikers in the area exited safely as weather conditions deteriorated.
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