Samantha joined the NewsWatch 12 team in June of 2020.

Title: Reporter/Producer

samanthadidion@kdrv.com

Samantha joined the NewsWatch 12 team as a reporter/producer in June 2020 after graduating from Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio.

During Samantha’s time at AU she wore a variety of hats. Outside of the classroom and during all four years at AU, Samantha was an athlete on the track and field team. It was being a part of this team where Samantha learned her golden rule and biggest piece of advice for life: Always be coachable. In the classroom she was an anchor, reporter, and the sports producer for Ashland’s television station as well as the managing editor for the school’s multimedia website. In the summer of 2019, she was a newsroom intern at WEWS News5 Good Morning Cleveland where her passion for listening and storytelling through video only grew.

Samantha is lucky enough to share her hometown of Sandusky, Ohio with Cedar Point, also known as the roller coaster capital of the world. Being from Ohio, Samantha is a fan of all Cleveland sport-- yes, even the Browns.

Growing up in a large family with 5 kids is what Samantha believes helped her become a well-rounded journalist and great listener.

Samantha brought a little piece of home to the West Coast with her in the form of fluffy, four-legged friend named Java Bean. Java is Samantha’s adopted German Shepard-mix that is always glued to her side! In Samantha’s free time you can find her and Java side by side (or with Java far ahead) exploring the Rogue Valley.

To reach out to Samantha or for cute pictures of Java you can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Medford Schools prepare for discussion on new social distancing guidance

Governor Kate Brown announced that Oregon schools now only have to socially distance three feet instead of six feet while inside classrooms. This is part of the goal to get more student back into classrooms.

Crater High School's Threads of Hope receives new project addition

Threads of Hope at the Crater High School receives a brand new storage shed for its donation items.

Craggy Vegetation Management Project going on now to reduce risk of wildfire spread

Prescribed pile burns are going on now at the Klamath National Forest as part of the Craggy Project which aims to help reduce the risk of wildfire spread during fire season.

Jackson County Public Health opens new vaccination clinic as people 65 and older become eligible

Jackson County Public Health opens a large-scale vaccination clinic to get people vaccinated as Oregonians who are 65 and older become eligible.

Neighboring school donates to Phoenix-Talent Rising Field Fund

Student involved in the Key Club at South Medford High School made the decision to raise and donate money towards the Phoenix-Talent Rising Field in the Jack Woodward stadium.

MSD students can graduate with nurse's assistant certification

The Medford School District has partnered with Rogue Community College for a nurse's assistant program for high school students to become a certified nurse's assistant.

Third case of UK COVID-19 variant found in Oregon

A person in Washington County has tested positive with the variant COVID-19 virus strain originally detected in the United Kingdom.

Jackson County Public Health reports 56 new cases and 2 new deaths Saturday

Health officials also reported that 1 case was previously reported and has been removed from the total count. With these changes, the total in Jackson is now 6,865.

Phoenix-Talent schools return for in-person learning

The Phoenix-Talent School District has welcomed students in elementary through 8th grade back into the building.

Sacred Heart School set to reopen Jan. 19th

Sacred Heart School set to reopen Jan. 19th for kindergarten through 8th grade.

Data is updated nightly.

Cases: 174501

Reported Deaths: 2460

Data is updated nightly.

Cases: 3716579

Reported Deaths: 60994