The event was free to the public. Representatives from local law enforcement agencies were in attendance. David Curry organized the event. “I’ve got a passion for cars, I’ve got a passion for helping people, and this again has been a great event and hopefully raising a lot of money and awareness for the D.S.A.S.O.”

This was the first event of its kind and organizers hope to make it an annual one.

MEDFORD, Ore. – Medford fire is limbering up for agility training day. It’s an annual requirement for the entire force, and part of an ongoing 11-week training academy.

Young firefighters and veterans were timed through the agility course, with different time requirements for different age groups.

They had to climb a five story tower by ladder with weighted packs, hoist weights from the top of a tower using rope and pulley, drag and carry hoses, and finish it off with a half-mile run.

Fire officials say physical fitness is an important part of doing their jobs.

“Whether it’s going to a car accident or putting out a structure fire, grass-fire, whatever, we want to make sure we stay in top physical form so we can serve our citizens most efficiently we can,” said Battalion Chief Ron Nelson.

Medford firefighters head up to Eugene next for some live fire training.

They say the academy covers everything down to how to put on and remove equipment as quickly as possible.

MEDFORD, Ore. – A Medford family is raising awareness for a rare and potentially fatal heart condition.

Jessica Szoyka was diagnosed with a serious form of Hypertrophic Cardio-Myopathy (HCM) in December. Now she and her husband are trying to get her open heart surgery that they say could save her life.

Szoyka was diagnosed with HCM 14 years ago when she was 22. It wasn’t until this past December that she realized how serious it was.

“I started experiencing some visual changes that caused me to go to the doctor,” said Szoyka. “And then I learned that I had a change – a significant change – in my cardiac condition.”

Thick ventrical walls in Jessica’s heart limit blood flow and oxygen to her body. It leaves her too exhausted to perform most daily tasks. And that’s just the beginning.

“My cells are criss-crossed, and it’s causing electrical problems, which could put me at risk for sudden death,” said Szoyka.

She’s wearing a heart monitor for the next week to determine that risk of sudden death. Plus three daily prescriptions, lab and genetic testing, and much more.

She says the expenses add up.

“I just had a cardiac MRI at Stanford and a stress test,” said Szoyka. “Everything’s rolling in. So I don’t even know where to start at this point.”

Now Jessica and her soon-to-be husband, Kevin, await open heart surgery. They say it could save Jessica’s life, but insurance is calling her HCM a pre-existing condition.

“If insurance doesn’t pay, we’re looking at $300,000,” said Kevin Orella, Jessica’s fiancé. “If they do pay and it’s only at 80%, we’re still looking in the neighborhood of $60,000.”

They say the only way they can afford the operation is through fundraising, which they’ve only just started.

In the meantime, they’re spreading the word to anyone else who could be at risk.

“The worry here is the ones that don’t have symptoms, so they’re not getting detected or followed,” said Szoyka. “They’re the ones that are at risk for sudden death.”

Most people with Jessica’s condition can live normal lives. She says only about 5% have the rare form she suffers from.

Upon arrival, the Medford Fire Hazardous Material Team found no evidence of formaldehyde residue on the ground, on the outside of the truck, or in a bucket the driver placed below the apparent leak site.

Truck company officials told fire crews it could’ve been some sort of water vapor.

The students complete community service in honor of Moore. Saturday’s car wash was the second of its kind. The students also held a coin drive for Moore, raising $1,400.

Medford Police also responded and searched the area. “Looking at this area … there’s no ignition sources, no electrical sources and all that, so we will rule everything out, so right now they are looking in the area for someone who may have potentially started the fire,” said Medford Fire’s Battalion Chief Wayne Painter.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. – This Tuesday, Josephine County voters will take their stance on the proposed public safety tax levy. Among the more unlikely services in that levy is animal control.

Now the Josephine County Animal Shelter is making their case for funding, and turning to donors to help them stay on their feet.

Officials with the animal shelter say there’s quite a bit of hand-wringing over the upcoming levy vote.

“It’s, you know, quite a bit of a concern because we’re already stressed and stretching our resources to the limit with what we do have,” said shelter manager Brad Booker.

Volunteers perform most shelter’s services, like pet adoption and licensing. But animal control is an exception. Depending on how voters lean, county funds could dry up for things like taking in abandoned pets, or handling nuisance or aggressive animals.

“The more funding that we have, the more likelihood that we’re able to control those situations and respond to all the calls in a timely manner,” said Booker.

Events like the Grants Pass Saturday pet fair give the shelter the chance to make up some of the difference by getting in front of potential donors and volunteers.

“Just general public support is really needed,” said volunteer coordinator Lynn Meagher. “Hands-on volunteers are desperately needed.”

They say those volunteers can’t help with animal control, but if funding dries up they’ll need help wherever they can get it.

“If we lose funding, we lose funding for things like vet bills… basic toys!” said Meagher.

Their message to volunteers — spend time socializing with an animal. The more social it is the more likely it will be adopted. And as more pets find families, more money gets saved.

“The less dogs and cats we have out there, the less care that’s needed, the less money that’s needed to provide that care,” said Booker.

Josephine County voters cast their ballots on the public safety levy this Tuesday. That levy would amount to a $1.48 per thousand dollars of assessed property value for the next three years.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Today is safety awareness day in Grants Pass. Residents young and old came down to the Grants Pass shopping center for the town’s safety day event.

Visitors climbed aboard equipment and vehicles from Grants Pass Fire and Josephine County Search and Rescue.

The Caveman Kiwanis club fitted people for free bike helmets. And the event even featured a judo demonstration from River City Martial Arts.

Mayor Darin Fowler says as safety budgets thin, citizen safety awareness can go a long way.

“They need to be the first responders — the one on scene who are not professionals need to be equipped to do the right thing first,” said Fowler.

In addition to community awareness events like safety day, mayor fowler says the town is investing in a sobering center. It could be finished as quickly as nine months, and would provide a place for those who are impaired to recover without taking up jail space.

A similar safety event was held at the South Medford Walmart on Saturday.

Officers located the children on F Street in Grants Pass before an Amber Alert could be issued. “The 8-year-old informed us that the guy that took the car stopped and let them off so they were able to get out of the vehicle unhurt,” said Grants Pass Police officer Todd Hawley. But the vehicle is still outstanding. Officers believe the white Ford Explorer could be connected to a reckless driving complaint on Upper River Road Saturday afternoon.

Police are using surveillance photos to help locate the suspect. Contact police if you have any information.

Officers say Silva drove away from the hotel while being pursued. Medford Police say Silva crashed the vehicle and witnesses report he ran away on foot. After investigating the area, officers say they found Silva in a utility trailer near the crashed and abandoned car.

Officers say Silva resisted arrest, but was ultimately taken into custody. The victim is currently being treated for her injuries, according to a press release.