LOCAL HEROES: The COVID-19 pandemic and

LOCAL March 8, 2020 DID YOU REMEMBER? Daylight Saving Time began this morning. If you forgot, it’s already an hour later than you think. CRATER BOYS TROUNCE LA SALLE, ADVANCE TO STATE TOURNAMENT SPORTS, PAGE D1 MORE THAN $225 IN SAVINGS INSIDE Heroes. In this day and age — with our desire for instant analysis, our need to rank accomplishments, and our fervor to argue over the merits of those we only “know” through our screens — it’s a label that is applied too often and seen too rarely. That is, until tragedy derails our 24/7/365 ... and we are reminded once again as to what distinguishes honest heroism. As much as the residents of Southern Oregon would like to wake up Jan. 1, and discover that 2020 was nothing more than a bad dream, we will not be that lucky. The coronavirus pandemic that began in Asia, spread across Europe and then targeted the United States hit Jackson County in early March — separated us physically and politically, shut down our businesses, schools and arts and finally, as you read this, took the lives of our families, friends and neighbors. Regardless of how we individually view COVID19, there should be no disagreement over the admiration and respect our community has for those on the medical front lines; the caregivers who tend to the most at-risk among us; and so many others in the public and private sectors whose creativity and commitment have given us avenues of continuity on the road to recovery. We adapt so that we may move forward and, in that The fires that ignited Sept. 8 forced thousands from homes and businesses they would never see again. Individual acts of bravery have been recounted, followed by the selflessness of legions of volunteers attending to the emotional and everyday torment scorched in the aftermath of the flames. Why do some choose to walk toward danger to keep it from spreading? Why do they quell the fires, heal the sick, keep the peace, tend to the afflicted and then clear the charred remnants of destruction? In the emerging restoration of Talent and Phoenix and other impacted areas, in the advent of a vaccine, through the smoke and ash, the debate and misinformation, the answer becomes clear. Why? Because there is no other option. lifting up, reaching out, extending the charity of the heart. Heroes. In the pages to follow, we are presenting a small sampling of “Heroes of Our Valley,” individuals and groups whose actions throughout the pandemic and the fires are emblematic of so many more in a battle that we understand to be ongoing, even as it leaves its imprint on our future. It’s an attitude best expressed by Jonatan Reyes, a Phoenix High School student who lost his home and his pet dogs in the Alameda fire. “Stay united,” he said, while visiting with other fire victims sheltered at The Expo. “Help each other out. Don’t give up.” We might want to forget 2020 as soon as the clocks HEROES The fires that ignited LOCAL 114th year, No. 346 32 pages, 4 sections Classifi eds ....C6-7 In Depth ...........A7 Local .............B1-3 Nation/World ...A4-5 Obituaries ........B2 Opinion .........B4-6 Sports ...........D1-6 West..............A2-3 $2.50 Jackson County, Oregon 0 978908 22245 Complete forecast, A10 WEATHER Delivery guaranteed TO OUR READERS Delivery Issues If you consistently have an issue getting your paper, I want to know. Call Mail Tribune publisher Steve Saslow at 541-776-4441 or send an email by 11 a.m. to deliveryissues @rosebudmedia.com. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Two Jackson County residents are among the latest cases in Oregon of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, according to public health officials. The two locals — who were not identified by authorities, but do live in the same household — are among four new patients across the state that were flagged as positive at the Oregon State Laboratory, Dr. Jim Shames with Jackson County Health and Human Services said Saturday at a press conference. The cases, which bring Oregon’s total to seven, are considered “presumptive,” because health officials are awaiting confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control in Washington. The two locals, with ages between 55 and 74, were exposed to the virus that has been linked to respiratory illness while traveling outside the country, according to Shames. PUBLIC HEALTH COVID-19 confi rmed in Jackson County Ofi cials say 2 members of the same household exposed to virus while outside U.S. INSIDE: THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK■ Health: The lastest events nationally and abroad, including delays in the U.S. in procuring proper testing kits. Page A6 ■ Local: Firefi ghters trip to Seattle postponed. Page B2■ Sports: Teams begin dealing with repercussions. Page D6 The two Jackson County residents did not need to be hospitalized, are isolating themselves in their home and are fully cooperating with public health offi cials. SEE COVID19, A9 SUNDAY FOCUS: STARTING SCHOOL JAMIE LUSCH / MAIL TRIBUNE Matthew Robertson, left, Laci Robertson, Lena Robertson, 5, and Jessica Robertson attend a Kindergarten Launch at Jewett Elementary School Tuesday. By Kaylee Tornay Mail Tribune I n the cafeteria of Jewett Elementary School on Tuesday evening, Jessica and Matthew Robertson sat at one of several long rows of tables with dozens of other families, fiddling with a green registration paper and a handful of personal documents. “It really hit me today knowing that we were going to come do this,” said Jessica Robertson. “It makes me emotional, it makes me nervous, for her, for myself, because this is such a huge change.” Lena, their 5-year-old daughter, who was hug-wrestling with her older sister between them, is the second child the couple will have seen off to kindergarten come next fall. But with another new student comes new uncertainties, from what their teacher will be like to how she’ll feel about being in the new environment. “She’s our more outgoing child, so I’m not nervous for that reason,” Jessica Robertson said. “I’m just nervous because she’s our baby, and it’s been five years since we’ve done this. So we have a pretty big gap between the two.” But that’s exactly why the family was at Jewett six months before Lena’s first day. The Kindergarten Launch event was designed to replace trepidation with information, equipping parents with knowledge to set their children up for long-term success from their first day in kindergarten. FROM CHILD TO STUDENT Local events and outreach help prepare children — and parents — for kindergarten“The earlier we can connect with them ... the more prepared the child and family will be to make that transition in the fall.” Teresa Slater, facilitator, Early Learning Hub SEE STUDENT, A9 TODAY MON TUE 52°/36° 58°/29° 66°/32° By Hillary Borrud OregonLive.com Oregon’s Legislature was supposed to meet for five weeks. But three weeks in, Republicans walked out and, day after day, stayed away. Unable to pass bills, Democrats gave up Thursday and abruptly adjourned the session. Republicans walked out to accomplish one thing: to kill Democrats’ carbon-capping climate bill. Mission accomplished, at least for now. It’s dead, although Gov. Kate Brown is said to be readying a draft of an executive order to enact some, if not all of the bill’s measures.“I will not back down,” Brown said in a statement Thursday, when the fate of Senate Bill 1530 became official. “In the coming days, I will be taking executive action to lower our greenhouse gas emissions.” The specifics of the order Brown will issue aren’t yet known. The governor’s office has been fine-tuning the proclamation in preparation for an expected legal challenge. “Our office is having conversations with the Department of Justice to ensure the governor acts as aggressively as she can within Oregon statutes,” said Kate Kondayen, a spokeswoman for Brown. “The executive order will reflect that.” Cap-and-trade opponents will likely counter by filing a lawsuit. The just-concluded 32-day session cost an estimated $485,000 according to the Legislative Fiscal Office, and legislators passed only three bills — on Cultural Trust license plates, a Clackamas County park district dispute and schools’ handling of athletes’ concussions. STATE LEGISLATURE Full of sound and fury, accomplishing ... not much SEE NOT MUCH, A9 18-year-old charged with drive-by shooting A Medford young adult is in the Jackson County Jail on charges he fi red a stolen gun from a car in a South Medford neighborhood. Jaime Arturo Fletes, 18, was arrested on a felony theft and misdemeanor weapons charges stemming from a non-injury drive-by shooting in the 600 block of South Holly Street, according to a release issued by Medford police. At about 4:58 p.m., a witness reported shots fi red in the area and saw a silver Volkwagen Jetta speed away. Offi cers fl ocked to the area, secured a perimeter, and found the sedan parked in the 900 block of Kenyon Street with three occupants in the car. While police were making contact, Fletes allegedly fl ed on foot to a residence nearby. After a standoff lasting about an hour, Fletes left the Kenyon Street home without further incident and was taken into custody. Police said they recovered a spent casing in an alley near where witnesses reported the shot was fi red, but no victim or damage caused by the gunshot. The fi rearm belonged to a family member of Fletes, and police believe Fletes used the weapon without the relative’s knowledge or permission. As of Saturday evening, charges have not yet been fi led by the Jackson County District Attorney’s offi ce in the case. Fletes is being held in jail without bail on Medford police’s felony charge of fi rst-degree theft and misdemeanor counts of menacing, recklessly endangering another person and unlawfully possessing a fi rearm. Get an amazing home cleaning from the only nationally recognized, locally owned cleaning service in southern Oregon. No cash value. New customers only. Cannot be combined with other offers. Offer Code: RB25 $25 YOUR FIRST CLEAN OFFTHE MAIDS® MR. CLEAN+ 541-241-8009 | MAIDS.com Certain trademarks used under license from The Procter & Gamble Company or its affiliates. REFRESH. RESTORE. REPEAT. JUST CALL THE MAIDS.® MF-00123819 Introduction atmosphere, heroes emerge And, as we rebuild, a qui- strike midnight. But we in the headlines and behind eter heroism takes shape. eventually might come the scenes.

It’s one carried out by our

to see it as a moment that

Then five months later, family, friends and neigh- taught us once again about

as we began to adjust to bors a step, a decision, a day the heroism required to

wearing face masks, work- at a time. forge a community.

ing from home and joining It’s not about seeking Stay united.

Zoom gatherings, we were praise or compensation; Help each other out.

struck again. satisfaction comes from Don’t give up.

CONTENTS HEROES OF OUR VALLEY

3 6 8 10 13

LOCAL HEROES: The COVID-19 pandemic and the September wildfi res reminded us of the many ways we can be heroic.

‘OUR HOUSEKEEPERS ARE ROCK STARS’: The pandemic put an emphasis on hospital cleaning crews to eliminate spreading the coronavirus.

HOW TO TURN 3 MONTHS INTO 20 YEARS: The director of Medford’s Kid Time museum found new ways to keep house-bound children active.

‘I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT SHE HAS DONE’: A Central Point volunteer worked to make sure the city maintained its sense of community.

YOUR HEROES OF OUR VALLEY: Readers cite fi rst-responders, public servants and others who came to the forefront in time of crisis.

18 22 26 28 33

A COMMUNITY GARDEN FOR THE COMMUNITY: Providence Medford Medical Center continues its Garden of Giving to aid local food banks.

A TEST OF WILL: Asante specialists have battled the elements outside (and inside) their suits to check to see whether patients have the virus.

‘HE WAS ALWAYS MY HERO’: Family and friends remember a Phoenix resident who gave his life helping others escape the Almeda fi re.

DISPATCH FROM THE INFERNO: A volunteer fi refi ghter recounts the drama of being called into action at a moment’s notice.

‘I’M JUST GLAD IT’S STILL STANDING’: Managers of a Talent apartment complex describe what it took to keep the fl ames from burning it down.

Wishing you hope and good health in 2021

As we look back on a year of unprecedented challenges, Providence is deeply grateful for our community and our caregivers. Through the toughest times, you have all been heroes, supporting one another with courage and compassion.

Now we look to the new year with hope. In partnership with our community and with our 110-year Mission in southern Oregon at the heart of all we do, we’re dedicated to caring for people in need, especially those who are vulnerable and underserved.