The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Monday finalized the firing of a department head who just a year ago as “interim director of operations” was the one signing off on firings but is now at the center of a whistleblower complaint under investigation by the state.

Facing a top-seeded West Linn team that scores an average of 11.3 runs a game and allows only 1.2, North Medford got off to a great start in Saturday’s Class 6A quarterfinal softball game in West Linn.

But after senior Natalie Tlascala’s one-out home run to left field in the first inning, the Lions rolled to a 12-2 win over the Black Tornado at Rosemont Ridge Middle School.

A 21-year-old White City man was ordered held on $500,000 bail in connection with a shooting Friday night at the Medford In-N-Out Burger.

Ivan Ortiz Ledezma was arraigned Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court on charges of first- and second-degree assault. The charges carry mandatory minimum sentences of 90 months and 70 months in prison, respectively.

After its debut last year, the region's newest premiere wine event, Savor Southern Oregon returns next month to the Bigham Knoll campus in Jacksonville, with 50 participating wineries.

Travel Oregon is again organizing the event, which includes a VIP tasting on June 12, a grand tasting on June 13 and a wine competition, which was held May 2-3; the results will be announced on June 8.