by Chris Leone

The Oregon Ducks improved to 13-4 in one-run games after beating Oregon St. on Tuesday night. Despite the win, it wasn't only the Beavers who say there is room for improvement.

Maryssa Becker has dominated opponents this season. The North Medford junior was 14 complete game shutouts to go along with an 18-0 record. Becker and the Black Tornado eye a deep run in this year's State Playoffs.

By Bryan Navarro

MEDFORD, Ore. -- A Medford smoke shop is in a hot spot, facing fines for a painting that some are calling graffiti and some are calling art. The 42 Degrees Smoke Shop says it's mural is just a design, but others have called it an eyesore.

The 42 Degrees Smoke Shop has been open for just longer than a year, but owners say until the paint went on the front walls, some people didn't even know they were here. Now the loud colors and designs are grabbing attention, which in some cases, is unwanted.

Store owners say, at the start of last week, Medford Police came to the shop. The department received many complaints from nearby businesses and people driving by, saying that the storefront was hit with graffiti and looked like a black eye on the neighborhood. That was when just the outline was done, but in the past few weeks, the colors have been filled in. The smoke shop owners say they may be the subjects of targeting.

"Maybe saying things due to what the content we have or the nature of the business that we are. I feel like that may be part of the targeting. I've always been a person who likes to change people's opinions," says store owner Adam Spiegel.

Store owners say they're expecting police to come back on Monday and are expecting to pay the fine then. They say it'll be a 150-dollar citation every time they get a fine, which can be as often as every ten days.

Owners have started a pair of petitions to support their cause. The hard copy in the store has dozens of signature and the online petition has over a hundred.

Getting your garden ready for the summer requires more than just adding a bag of dirt to the bed.

As you prep your garden space, you might notice existing beds have low soil levels. Chief Meteorologist Scott Lewis is in the garden with OSU Master Gardener Virginia Brown, and can tell us more about soil amendment.

By Sharon Ko

MEDFORD, Ore. -- Doctors performing procedures just for women are getting extra helping hands, literally, through a robot.

Gynecologists at the Rogue Valley Medical Center say the DaVinci Robot is a machine with several arms that they can control with their hands.

By using a microscopic camera, they can see clearer inside a woman's uterus while performing a hysterectomy. They say it's also beneficial for obese women, because the arms prop up the abdominal area. Patients who had the procedure done say the healing time is fast.

"It's important for women to know it doesn't have to be something scary and body altering and re-planning your life for months," says patient Cyndie Hampton.

Doctors say there's also less blood loss scarring and risk of infections. This robot is similar to one at Providence Medford Medical Center.

By Steven Sandberg

MEDFORD, Ore. -- A 16-year-old, who first made headlines at birth for being part of the first set of quadruplets born in Jackson County, is now facing charges for trying to kill his brother.

Thursday, a grand jury indicted Andrew Ronda on four charges; two of them are Measure 11 offenses. He is 16-years-old, but his name is being released because he's being charged as an adult.

Andrew Ronda is the youngest of the quadruplets and is accused of trying to kill his brother at their home on May 6. Chief Deputy District Attorney Beth Heckert says the victim suffered a deep cut to his hand and was able to run away from Andrew, who is in the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Facility.

"It didn't appear to be a fight, it didn't appear to be something that had just occurred, it appeared to be something that Andrew had planned," Deputy District Attorney Beth Heckert.

Mathew, Mark, Anelise and Andrew were born in 1996. NewsWatch 12 was at their first birthday.

The D.A.'s office says Andrew suffered from mental health problems, and they will examine his medical records as the case moves forward. The Measure 11 offenses Andrew is facing carry a sentence of 90 months and 70 months. He is also charged with 2 non-Measure 11 offenses, attempted assault in the first degree and unlawful use of a weapon.

By Kaylin Krashesky

MEDFORD, Ore. -- Letter carries are hoping that warm weather this weekend helps people warm up to the idea of donating to the local community.

Most people are receiving bright yellow bags in mailboxes this week; those bags can be filled with non-perishable food items to be collected by local letter carriers.

The Annual Stamp Out Hunger Across America Campaign is the largest single day food drive in the U.S. and helps bring in thousands of pounds of food here in Southern Oregon. Last year, letter carriers collected almost 80,000 pounds of food for access in Medford.

"If the community could just dig a little deep and grab one or two cans off their shelf and a box of crackers or anything of that sort it goes a long way," says letter carrier Paul Rodriguez.

Letter carriers will pick up yellow bags with donated items Saturday, May 12th.

By Erin Maxson

EAGLE POINT, Ore. -- Thursday morning, District 9 and the Eagle Point Employees Union started their second negotiation session during the strike. Both the district and the union say they have made some progress, but still have a ways to go, especially on prep-time issues.

"We are a group of support staff, we are a group of janitors, we are a group of secretaries and we've spent our whole career teaching kids to be safe and to be respectful and to be responsible. And so when I hear people suggest anything different, I have to say flat out that's not true," states Acting Union President Dave Carrel.

Despite the assurances of the Eagle Point Employees Association, Paul Anicker says he was an un-welcomed guest at Thursday morning's protest.

"If I can't even go into my own community without feeling that way, that's not right," says Anicker

Other than being a parent of District 9 students, Anicker has no connection to the district. He says he was called a communist and harassed because of his anti-union sign.

"People have complained about the word ‘greed' on my sign and really, it doesn't say teachers, it says teachers union," says Anicker. "I know they represent the teachers, I have nothing against, any of the employees of the district, it's just the basic principals of the union and what they are trying to do."

Other than that, the father of District 9 students says he respects the teachers and had several good conversations with the strikers.

Andrea Dabbs, an educator and striker, says all the official communication from the union has promoted only positive and appropriate behavior; and that is what she and many of her fellow strikers say even if they are passionate and refuse to stand down, they will choose to remain role models for their students.

"This isn't personal, there is no ‘us versus them'," states Dabbs. "We are all looking at it from... we are speaking different languages and looking at it from different points of view I am just hopeful that the district negotiations team will look at it as a community as a whole and try to keep as many people employed as possible."

By Sharon Ko

MEDFORD, Ore. -- As cell phones gain popularity many people are using it as a first line of communication. But Jackson County Emergency Dispatch says it's seen a rise in emergency calls to its center but not for real emergencies.

Cell phones travel around in our pockets, purses, or anywhere they fit; but the devices are known to make pocket dials. Jackson county emergency dispatchers are also getting called on accident.

"4 or 5 calls of 40 of them a day, actually turn into someone that was attempting to report an emergency," says a spokesperson.

The rest of the 35 calls a day are by accident. Back in April, dispatch received 1,300 pocket-dials. A spokeswoman says usually the person on the other line is someone who can't talk.

"We often spend a lot of time talking with children trying to convince them to put their mother or father on the phone," she says.

She also says, if a pocket-dialer accidentally calls and hangs up, staff are required to call back. So while one person is returning that call, the pocket dialer might be calling, tying up the lines.

"Pretty soon we have three dispatchers trying to call the same cell phone back. And that's three people that are now are out of the mix of answering the next 911 call," the spokesperson says.

Dispatchers say keeping you phone away from your children or changing settings can prevent pocket dialing. Dispatchers say they call back only once for safety reasons even if it's on accident. But if they hear sounds of a struggle or an argument they contact cell phone companies to get the location of the call to send law enforcement.

One more cool morning on Friday then the heat begins! We'll see so much sunshine that temperatures will warm to the highest levels so far this year, which is into the 90's for the valleys, 80's for the Klamath Basin. Clear skies continue into early next week, with only a chance of thunderstorms Monday afternoon blocking the sun.

by Chris Breece

The gymnasts at America's Best Kids Gymnastics in Medford range from six-years-old to high school athletes. The group came home with eight individual state champions at last week's meet in Grants Pass.

by Chris Leone

The seniors on the Crater softball team host a charity game against South Medford to honor Faith Fulmer. Fulmer died of cancer last September and had been adopted by Crater through the Southern Oregon Sparrow Clubs.

Concordia holds the team lead in the men's and women's Cascade Conference Track Championships, but SOU is within strikiing distance with two more days of events to go.

y Bryan Navarro

MEDFORD, Ore. -- Officers, deputies, and agents from dozens of law enforcement agencies swept through homes across the Jackson County in a massive raid targetting drug traffickers.

Investigators call the raid "Operation Clear Green." They say focused on a large methamphetamine and marijuana poly-drug trafficking organization based in the Rogue Valley.

At 9 a.m. the teams started executing search warrants. 90 agents searched eight houses in Medford, Central Point, Eagle Point, and White City.

15 people were charged. That includes two juveniles, three men who were cited and released, and ten people who were arrested and lodged in Jackson County Jail.

Through the duration of the investigation, teams seized a total of three pounds of crystal methamphetamine, more than 1,000 marijuana plants, one pound of dried pot, and small amounts of heroin and cocaine. Police also found five guns and $30,000.

Officials say there are additional suspects being sought in conjunction with Operation Clear Green and the investigation continuues.

The following agencies were involved in the investigation:

MADGE (Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement team), SOMMER (Southern Oregon Multi-Agency Marijuana Eradication team), Federal Bureau of Investigations, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, US Marshal's Service, Bureau of Land Management, RADE (Rogue Area Drug Enforcement), Southern Oregon High-tech Crimes Task Force, Ashland Police, Central Point Police, Grants Pass Police, Klamath Falls Police, Medford Police, Phoenix Police, Talent Police, Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Justice, Jackson County Community Corrections, US Attorney's Office, and Jackson County District Attorney's Office.

By Sharon Ko

EAGLE POINT, Ore. -- The Eagle Point School District spent Friday training substitute teachers making sure they are ready to open school on Monday. Outside the training high school seniors were presenting their final projects and offering support to their striking teachers.

Over at Eagle Point High School, several substitute teachers from math to science were in their second day of training, preparing their lessons plans. The district says it chose educators based on their previous experience. Only those who were state qualified and licensed in their school subject were hired.

While replacement teachers trained, seniors were presenting their final projects in order to graduate. Teachers who were picketing outside say students offered support, high-fiving them and sharing their joy of making the grade.

The panel that judges students is missing its teachers because of the strike, but the assistant principal says it doesn't impact the expectations of the student and their work. District and union negotiations are expected to pick-up again on Tuesday morning.

By Ron Brown

NEAR GOLD HILL, Ore. -- The Memorial Day holiday is just a couple weeks away, and with it, the unofficial start to the summer vacation season. That means families all across the country will be hitting the highways for summer vacation.

For nearly a hundred years, Southern Oregon has been a destination point for those looking for different vacation destinations, from Crater Lake and the Oregon caves, to Shakespeare, Britt festival and the Oregon Vortex, and Uncanny Canyon.

For longer than anyone can remember, people say they have felt something strange when they're at what is known as the "Oregon Vortex", near Gold Hill. Legend says Indians and miners first puzzled over strange distortions and irregularities in measurements, and the environment in an area near the headwaters of Sardine Creek. But it took Scottish mining engineer John Litster to develop experiments to demonstrate what many see as the area's quirks and anomalies.

"Two theories that we use throughout. The one of John Litster's, who did all the experiments here, and Einstein's theory. The two are the best theories so far that anyone has come up with. They explain most of what happens here, but not fully," says House of Mystery's Maria Cooper.

At the site of the Old Grey Eagle Mine, the House of Mystery, as it's called, is said to be an old assay office that slid down off it's foundation more than 90 years ago. Litster named it the ‘'House of Mystery'', although the ''Vortex'' is what puzzles visitors.

"Years ago I remember John Litster saying himself that he wished he hadn't coined it ‘the House of Mystery', because it's the ‘Vortex,' the area creating the phenomena. The 'house' really has nothing to do with it. It simply enhances what occurs here," says Cooper.

Here, anyone facing south appears appreciably shorter than a person facing north. And standing straight actually appears some 7-1/2 degrees out of plumb. Litster used his engineering knowledge to try to explain the phenomena to visitors, however others still try to debunk his theories.

One of those who took Lister on was John Dunlap, who created his own version of the House of Mystery up Highway 62, near Trail. Opening shortly after World War Two, he called his tourist attraction "Uncanny Canyon." it had all the same illusions and distortions as the house of mystery. And that really riled up John Litster, who filed suit in 1952 to shut Dunlap down. In 1955, legendary Jackson County Judge Hannah dismissed the injunction against Dunlap and Uncanny Canyon, which continued to operate for about ten more years.

One of the most unusual tourist attractions, though, had to be this large log structure in Sutherlin, just north of Roseburg. Built by Loring A. Wood at his family's auto camp in 1932, it stood for many years along the Pacific Highway. He says he conceived the project following five nights of vivid dreams where the details were revealed to him. Made of 3,200 logs and poles from 464 trees he hand-cut himself, it was a hundred feet long and 40 feet high at the center, and was lighted at night. He also made several other structures of logs, also claiming the shape and sizes were revealed in dreams.

You'd probably have to agree that Southern Oregon is certainly home to a number of well-known worldwide tourist-type attractions. Not only the Shakespeare Festival, but the Oregon Caves and Crater Lake National Park. But clearly one of the most unusual and enduring would have to be, the House of Mystery.

Lister owned and operated the Oregon Vortex, or House of Mystery, from 1930 to his death in 1959. The House of Mystery is on Sardine Creek Road, west of Gold Hill, and is open from March through October. The first imitation of the House of Mystery was built at Santa Cruz, California in 1941. Knott's Berry Farm also operated a similar attraction for many years.

Mostly clear skies will allow valley temperatures to reach the low-90s this weekend. Most of the next week will be dry but slightly cooler.

by Chris Leone

LaMichael James heads to San Francisco for the 49ers rookie camp this weekend. James was picked in the second round of this year's NFL Draft.

This weekend, 80 teams from Washington, Oregon and California will play in the Kyle Singler Southern Oregon Open. The size of the field has nearly quadrupled in size since it first began six years ago.

St. Mary's is the odds-on favorite to win the 3A/2A/1A boys' golf state championship. The Crusaders won last year and have been posting much lower scores across the board in 2012.

By Yessenia Anderson

WHITE CITY, Ore., -- 20 educators took to the streets in White City as their colleagues took on Eagle Point and Shady Cove, saying their message to the public is clear.

"The Oregon law is that kids need to be in school and so we're not here to subvert law or do any of that we're here to speak up for our rights," said Employees Union President, Dave Carrell.

As educators canvassed through neighborhoods, school district officials said they are investigating reports of warnings from people claiming they are District 9 teachers.

"That they are actually going to door to door saying you should not go to school because it wont be a good process, it wont be a good learning environment," said Human Resources Director, Michael Remick.

The president of the employee's union said he along with other teachers have concerns about the quality of the substitutes, including their licensing and credentials.

"We're bringing some facts for them to consider as they contemplate what's happening with this," said Carrell.

Ultimately they said they have presented parents with their facts but deny asking them to keep their kids home.

"It's a personal choice on what they want to do they have to weigh all the options carefully but the idea that we would suggest to do one thing or another is ridiculous," said Carrell.

District officials said Oregon law states children 7 to 18 years old must have regular school attendance, with few exceptions to that rule, including home schooling.

"The strike really is not a reason for a transfer but what we have in place is our regular transfer process and procedures," said Remick.

In the midst of the alleged warning's district officials received another concerned caller. A parent saying she was told by an auto dialer where her kids bus pick up will be during the strike week.

"We didn't send that auto dialer because we did not give specifics. It would've been too comprehensive we're kind of puzzled as to where that came from," said Remick.

District officials have taken down the names and numbers that are associated with these calls.

"We try to find out what the facts are and make assessments based on what information turns out to be true," said Remick.

By Yessenia Anderson

MEDFORD,Ore.-- All across the nation letter carriers are filling up their mail trucks with much more than envelopes.

Saturday morning kicked off the start of Stamp Out Hunger.

It's a nationwide effort for families to contribute can goods for those in need.

Yellow bags were filled and picked up in Medford Saturday.

ACCESS officials expect about 45,000 pounds of food to be collected and said as of this morning they were off to a promising start.

"You can see the one just coming in now it's laid in heavily and that's the way we like to see them. Hopefully they'll keep on coming throughout the day like that," said nutrition program director, Philip Yates.

ACCESS officials said you still have a chance to make your contribution.

Mail carriers will continue their can food pick up through the rest of next week.

Courtesy: Oregon Sports Information

EUGENE, Ore. - Jimmie Sherfy struck out the final four batters he faced as No. 9 Oregon opened its series against USC with a 4-3 victory on Saturday afternoon at PK Park.

The Ducks (36-14, 17-8), winners in nine of their last 10 games, defeated the Trojans (22-22, 7-14) by pounding out 10 hits despite leaving 13 runners stranded, including eight in Oregon's final three innings at the plate.

Oregon right-hander Alex Keudell (9-3) won his eighth consecutive start, limiting USC to three runs on seven hits and four walks, while striking out four.

Aaron Jones, who started in right field for the first time since April 13 at Stanford, gave Oregon a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third, driving Ben Mount's 1-0, one-out offering over the wall in left to record his sixth home run the season.

But USC evened the score after Dante Flores' RBI single scored Alex Sherrod, who led off the fourth with a double into right field.

Oregon then scored three runs with two outs on the board to take a 4-1 advantage in the bottom of the fifth as Aaron Payne stole second after being walked, and was in position to score on Ryon Healy's double into right field.

The Ducks recorded back-to-back doubles as Brett Thomas drove his second hit of the game into right field to bring Healy home. Oregon scored its final run of the inning as Kyle Garlick recorded an infield single, and the error by USC shortstop James Roberts on the overthrow to first allowed Thomas to score unearned.

USC starter Ben Mount (1-5) took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk tossing a total of five innings.

USC closed 4-3 in the top of the sixth as Matt Foat's two-out, two-run double to left allowed Sherrod and Flores to score after each singled earlier in the inning.

Oregon left the bases loaded in back-to-back innings in the sixth and seventh innings, and stranded two more base runners in the eighth.

But the combination of Tommy Thorpe and Sherfy allowed the Ducks to complete the win.

In the top of the seventh with two outs and a runner on first, Oregon went to its bullpen and Thorpe caught Garrett Stubbs stealing second for the third out. In the top of the eighth, Thorpe had a runner on first and two outs when Horton called Sherfy to the mound. Sherfy plunked a batter before striking out the next four he faced to earn his 14th save of the season.

Sherrod led USC with a 3-for-4 day and two runs scored. Oregon was led by Thomas' 3-for-4 outing, including a RBI, run scored and his 13th double of the season. Healy added two hits including his 11th double of the year for the Ducks.

Notes: The crowd of 2,951 was the second largest of the season and the ninth largest all-time...Oregon is now 14-4 in one-run games... J.J. Altobelli lined out to USC starter Ben Mount in the bottom of the second in his first plate appearance since April 16...the Ducks have recorded 86 two-out RBIs...Alex Keudell earned his eighth straight win on the mound despite recording his shortest outing since March 16, lasting six and 2/3 innings and allowing three earned runs - also the most earned runs he has allowed since four at Washington on March 16. Keudell's nine wins in 2012 tie for first in Oregon single-season history, while his 21 career victories rank second...Aaron Jones continues to lead the Ducks with 34 RBIs, and is tied for the team lead with six home runs...Brett Thomas' 13 doubles tie for third in Oregon single-season history.

By Chris Breece

With Kyle Singler still in Spain, EJ Singler takes over his brother's role at the Kyle Singler Open, putting on a skills clinic.

Oregon baseball wins game one of its series with USC 4-3. The Ducks remain in first place in the Pac-12.

Oregon State falls to Utah 4-3 in 11 innings. They fall to 12-12 in conference.

Ashland scores 19 runs in two games in a sweep of Crater. The Comets have lost five in a row since starting 13-1.

North Medford takes two from Eagle Point.