Monica property up for sale

This is the picture featured in real estate listings for Susan Monica's property -- the site of two grisly murders that happened more than a decade ago.

By Brad Smith

If you have more than $475,000 and want to own a piece of Oregon's dark history, you can buy the property once owned by Susan Monica AKA the "Pig Farm Killer" or "Pig Lady."

The property, located at 9184 West Evans Creek Rd., was listed on Aug. 26 of this year. It's described as: "Property with lots of potential!!! 19.99 acres of opportunity awaits to be further developed and made into your very own paradise or investment. Home site is established with the beginnings of a home with a basement as well as power, well and septic. Additional features the property offers is a large metal shop, perimeter fencing and a pond. Schedule your showing today to see what all this property has to offer!!"

In Oregon, a seller must disclose to the buyer any material defects known to the seller that would not be readily apparent to a buyer. That's all, however. Realtors, however, don't have to disclose anything regarding the property's history -- from allegations of hauntings and/or other paranormal activity to things such as murder.

"I'm very aware of what happened there," one local real estate agent said. "Yes, I would tell a potential buyer about what happened there. I think they should know."

A lot happened at 9184 West Evans more than ten years ago -- and none of it was pleasant.

In January 2014, Wimer residents and those in nearby Rogue River were shocked to discover that one of their own had some grisly secrets. That's when Susan Monica, then 65, an eccentric woman who sometimes kept to herself and was rumored of having a volatile temper, was arrested for double homicide. According to information from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Monica was born on July 8, 1948 as Steven Buchanan and enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War.

During the investigation and in court proceedings, it was revealed that Monica shot and killed Stephen Delicino, 59, in August 2012 and Robert Haney, 56, in September 2013. After which, in both cases, she fed the bodies to her pigs. As multiple law enforcement agencies joined in the initial investigations, there were rumors of Monica being a serial killer and more bodies buried on the property.

No other bodies were discovered.

Monica was found guilty on all counts on April 21, 2015. The trial lasted six days and the jury's deliberation lasted only an hour. The trial was reported on not only by local and regional media outlets, but even Great Britain's Daily Mail covered it, using a Google Earth map of Monica's ranch property.

She was known for her metalworking and many still say she was very good at it. While in the Navy, she had been trained as a welder. She did a lot of work for people in the area; her 20-acre property was a like a compound, with a barn, outbuildings and a few vehicles. There was a camper trailer on the property -- that's where those who worked for her lived. According to some, she wanted to build an underground home. "It was going to be like a bunker," one person said.

Those interested in seeing one of the listings can find it here.

Some Hallowe'en Fun

By Brad Smith

It's October, almost Hallowe'en, so it's to revisit earlier articles about all things spooky and paranormal.

Let's get started.

Ghosts haunt Ashland and the surrounding area – it’s a place rich in paranormal lore.

Sometimes.

Southern Oregon University has a few stories. From the Ghosts and Critters website, here’s a rundown of its most notable stories:

Southern Oregon University’s Plunkett Center has been put to many uses since the University acquired the old building in 1966. It has been alumni and development offices on its second floor and the first floor is used as museum displays by the local historical society. This building is also known as the Swedenburg House, taken from its former tenant, Dr. F. Swedenburg. Swedenburg was a prominent local physician who lived in the house from 1919 until he died in 1937. 

Since the University purchased the property there have been ghost stories surrounding it. Some skeptics believe the stories get more elaborate year after year. Believers who counter this opinion included a University professor and the head of campus security. 

Joey Ngan began his experiences with the Swedenburg house when he was a junior campus security guard. Ngan had the graveyard shift when he started out working for security. He always felt as if he was being watched when he went onto the second floor. He would announce himself and explain that he was just there to check out the building. If he did not do this he always felt as if something did not want him there. 

The house was restored in the early 1980s and a new security system was installed. Ngan and another officer had just finished checking the building and ensuring that the alarm system was operational. Later they drove by the house and saw a woman illumined by the porch light. She was sitting beside a window in a first-floor office. They saw her for a second and then she was gone. They entered the building and searched it for her. The door was locked and the building was empty. 

Political Science Professor Bill Muelemans came to the University in the early 1970s and collected several of the stories over the years. In 1973 the building was closed down and the electricity was turned off. Muelemans, a security guard and three students decided to hold a vigil in the house. They went to one of the second story rooms with candles, flashlights and a Ouija board. The board spelled out messages, including a statement that one of the students had tried to commit suicide in the past. This was true, though no one besides the student knew this. The board began moving and seemed to jump in the air about 18 inches. 

At that point they ran out of the building. The security guard was the last one out. As he was locking the door he felt as if his hand was frozen to the doorknob for about 30 seconds before he could break free. Many visitors have seen another specter. A young girl dressed in an old-fashioned pinafore dress with her hair in pigtails has been seen by many unrelated visitors. She is usually seen out of the corner of the visitor's eyes and only for a few seconds. There are rumors of burglar alarms going off and glowing apparitions seen by students late at night. It is hard to pin them down to a definite location.

There are a few other stories, buildings haunted by long dead janitors, teachers and students. Universities and colleges have those kinds of stories, ranging from botched hazings to distraught students dying by suicide. And, some of them are urban legends: The same basic story transferred from one school to another, with some details changed to fit local history or what have you.

Think about it: How many hotels or other places have stories of the jilted bride who killed herself? Yes, at some point, it happened . . . . And then a slightly altered version of the story found its way attached to another hotel or well-known resort. Then, it spreads from there.

Then, you have some local folklore altered into a ghost story.

Tunnel 13 is a good example.

It was called the last great train robbery of the American West. On Oct. 11, 1923, the DeAutremont brothers – twins Roy and Ray along with their younger brother Hugh – robbed the Oregon–California Express as it was on its way to San Francisco. During the robbery, four men were killed and the brothers fled empty handed. Thanks to the efforts of a Berkeley chemistry professor name  Edward Oscar Heinrich and his forensic skills, the DeAutremont brothers were eventually captured and sentenced to prison.

Since then, many have claimed Tunnel 13 is haunted. People claim to have felt cold spots as they walk through the tunnel – well, it’s a tunnel. It’s a tunnel with a violent past and it’s like the funhouse effect, as some of us paranormal investigators call it. It’s like when people look at a spooky old building and think it’s haunted.

Why?

Because it looks spooky.

It’s the same with Tunnel 13. It has the right perquisites for a haunted location. Remote, foreboding, violent history and – most importantly – it has the number 13.

It has to be haunted.

I love history, crime stories and forensics; so the Tunnel 13 story has plenty of hooks for me as it is. And, yes, as a paranormal investigator, I’d love to check it out but I feel that there isn’t enough documentation to say there’s any paranormal activity at the location. There’s a lot to assume and the YouTube videos I’ve seen . . . well, I’m not impressed. Anecdotal evidence might be an interesting hook but it’s not real evidence.

Now, if someone has a different view or even evidence – please, let me know. As Mulder’s poster so famously says, I want to believe.

Ashland is home to a number of ghosts and here are few of their stories.

Spanning more than 90 acres, Ashland’s Lithia Park is the city’s largest park, with famed landscape architect John McLaren overseeing a number of improvements. One of the park’s most well-known ghosts is the Blue Lady or Blue Girl. According to the accounts, back in the 1880s, a young woman was sexually assaulted and murdered. Since then, many witnesses have reported a mysterious blue light – or a glowing mist – floating throughout the park, particularly the duck ponds.

Always at night, of course.

The Blue Lady, in her mist form, has been known to move out in front of moving vehicles or seemingly appear out of thin air. In these accounts, as the vehicles pass through the blue mists, the occupants are hit with a cold chill.

Then, the cold goes away along with the mist.

Another story has it that a logger was killed during an accident. According to some accounts, the ill-fated logger used a drinking jug as a musical instrument . . . witnesses claim to hear strange musical sounds as they walk through the park at night.

Where the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Black Swan Theatre now stands, nearly a hundred years ago, there was a large parking lot (an automobile dealership would later take its place). During the day, a young man – called Dog Boy or Dog-Faced Boy due to an accident that scarred his face – would sell pencils out of a tin cup; at night, he would break into parked cars or burglarized nearby businesses. However, local vigilantes, according to one story, caught Dog Boy in the act and beat him to death.

Ever since, Dog Boy has been seen the in the area, looking for another vehicle to rob or maybe even seeking shelter from vigilantes.

Famed stage and film actor Charles Laughton went to the OSF in the early 1960s and enjoyed the shows he saw. It’s been said Laughton had always wanted to play King Lear at the OSF and, supposedly, the deal was made. However, Laughton died . . . stories have it that whenever Lear is produced at the OSF, Laughton or some shadowy figure can be seen in the audience during rehearsals or his footsteps can be heard backstage.

In the town’s old railroad district, what’s now the Peerless Hotel was once a boarding house for railway workers and is rumored to be haunted by a ghost prostitute who visited the men.

It should be noted that these stories are based on various accounts and urban legends. Each story probably has several different versions – that’s the nature of folklore.

A few miles west of Gold Hill, Ore., right off of Rogue River Highway, is Rock Point Cemetery.

According to locals and a number of paranormal investigators, it’s haunted.

There was once a small community call Rock Point and it had a post office along with a train station. Some buildings reportedly still stand but the cemetery remains. Rock Point Cemetery is more that 26 acres in size and has an Independent Order of Odd Fellows section and the rest, in the past, has been called the Pioneer Cemetery. IOOF members maintained their section while the rest of it fell into a state of disarray. Eventually, Gold Hill citizens banded together and started cleaning the cemetery.

Over the years, a number of stories about paranormal activity have swirled around the cemetery, even to the point that paranormal investigators and curiosity seekers from all over the state have come to visit.

One of the most well-known accounts is about a hooded figure, carrying a lantern and sometimes bathed in green light, that roams the cemetery. When people approach the hooded figure, it vanishes into the night. There are a pair of crypts located in the cemetery and there are stories of both surrounded by green mists or even green fire. Strange lights, eerie sounds and – again – that green mists were experienced by nighttime visitors . . . typically, local young people who went to the cemetery as a dare or even for teenaged romantic escapades.

As I was working on my first Rock Point article, I discovered that a common dare was for someone to lie across one of the crypts and wait for the green fog or flames to happen. Some stories have it that as young people drove through the cemetery, their car windows would crack or shatter due to an unseen force.

Both sextons and members of the Gold Hill Historical Society claim that people wearing Victorian era clothing have been seen wandering the cemetery – then disappearing. One such spectral figure, a woman, is usually accompanied by the strong fragrance of lilacs.

It is a beautiful place during the fall and spring, thanks to the local cleanup efforts. A number of the gravesites are fenced off and have been decorated with ornaments and toys.

As I researched Rock Point’s history, I discovered who the hooded figure was.

At some point in the late 19^th Century, a Civil War veteran moved to the Gold Hill area. On some nights, he would put on his military longcoat, grab a lantern and go to the cemetery. He would visit the gravesites of other veterans, checking on them and even talking, as if having a conversation with the dead.

Many years after his death, it appears that the old veteran still patrols the cemetery grounds.

Happy Hallowe’en . . . .

Email From A Reader: The Saltshakers and their bad behavior

"You may find a video of an incident that occurred yesterday, interesting.   

"Salt Shakers are taunting an upset, shirtless man, laughing at him, making  derogatory comments, calling him a demon, etc., seemingly mocking him for possibly being unhoused,  and then asking the police to have the man arrested.  This took place as they protested in front of Newman Methodist Church. The man kept yelling to be left alone, and the video shows Casie and Jon Peterman continuing to push his buttons, and advancing, when the man tried to retreat.  It's on her Casie May Facebook page.  Comments on the page are sad, as well, as they have no empathy for the guy, who was  clearly not having his best day. Jon says the man should have been punched in the mouth more, as a child."

How safe is the Rogue Valley's LGBTQ community?

As the hate group RV Saltshakers and other bigots step up their protests and attacks, some in the LGBTQ community are seeing an increase in harassment and intolerance

By Brad Smith

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore – Tyler should be a happy young man: He loves his home, loves his job and is deeply in love with someone.

He should feel safe – but doesn’t.

“There are times when I’m out in public, I feel like something bad could happen,” he said. “There are times when I feel so wary and uneasy, I can’t allow myself to relax or have fun.”

Tyler is gay. Openly gay. For him and others who belong to the LGBTQ community here in southern Oregon, it’s not a very easy thing to be. “I knew who I was early on. I just knew,” he said. “I accepted it and was fine with who I am. However, many in my family didn’t handle that very well. There was a lot of hostility and religious indoctrination. It was for me, emotionally, very brutal. I’m still coping with PTSD from that time of my life.”

According to studies published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), family rejection is strongly associated with mental health problems and suicidality, substance use, and sexual risk. Not surprisingly, parental rejection is linked to increased depression, suicidality and substance use among LGBTQ youth.

The research also states:

“It is important to note that those LGBTQ youth who do perceive strong support from their families tend to have better mental health and lower risk of substance abuse and – to a lesser extent -- sexual risk behaviors. The presence of parental support in the lives of LGBTQ youth indicates that parents and their children were resilient in the face of coming to terms with the teen's LGBTQ identity, which is often a significant stressor for both parents and teens.”

That wasn’t the case for Tyler.

“I’ve become the black sheep of the family,” he said with a laugh. “Some relationships with my family have been very strained and show no signs of changing. However, things have gotten better with other family members. It’s been a slow process but it’s progress nonetheless.”

Over the past year, he has found love.

“Meeting Eli is the best thing in my life. I love my job and I do have friends – but there was something else missing. That was Eli. Having them in my life made all the difference. However, there was a slight problem. Well, it was a problem for my family when they learned Eli is Black.”

It didn’t go well. Tyler said some of his family were “very outraged” upon learning Eli was Black. There was angry outbursts or tense, judgmental silence.

“I guess they felt that I’d gone out of my way to piss them off,” he said. “It’s upsetting because it seems that no matter what I do, or who I am, they’re not happy and they want to make me feel miserable.”

Eli’s family is unaware of the relationship.

“Based on what we experienced with my family,” Tyler said, “Eli and I are taking a more careful approach. It’s frustrating for us but it’s what we have to do.”

Eli, Tyler added, has been dealing with prejudice as well.

“It’s like this: We’ll be walking down the street and a white person gets out of their car. They look at Eli, stop, turn around and lock the doors. Sometimes, they don’t hide their fear and hate. You can clearly see it on their faces. It makes me sick.”

There have been times when Eli visited Tyler, as they drive through the neighborhood, someone stopped them and demanded why they’re in the neighborhood or who they’re seeing in the area.

“People have used their big pickup trucks to block Eli’s car and then comes the shouting, the threats,” Tyler said. “Or people will be on the sidewalks or in their yards, yelling and screaming at him. In my neighborhood, there are more than a few Trump signs or flags, Blue Lives Matter signs or Confederate flags.”

Tyler said that he and Eli have talked about moving elsewhere.

“We’re looking at Talent or Ashland,” he said. “Someplace where we’ll feel relaxed and safe. Safer, I should say. We don’t want to leave the area; this is our home and we do love it here. I don’t want to do that.”

Tyler and Eli aren’t the only ones who feel unsafe in southern Oregon.

A few years ago, the LGBTQ+ Community Survey was developed by the steering committee of the LGBTQ+ Listening Project – a group of queer and trans folks in Jackson and Josephine Counties in southwestern Oregon who came together with the leadership of Rory Meza in 2019.

The survey’s aim was to learn more about the needs of the LGBTQ+ community and the resources available in southern Oregon region. It was developed between February and June 2020, released in July 2020 and remained open until Oct. 31, 2020.

According to the survey information, more than 550 people responded. Reading the survey, it was troubling to learn that over 86 percent of those who answered felt “like they need to leave the area to live a good life.”

Here are some of the comments:

·         “Many people tell me I need to move to Portland or Eugene to feel more welcome.”

·         “Grants Pass is a very hard and dangerous place for non-straight, non-white people to exist and it's hard to get the money saved to move away due to unlivable wages, especially for non-white people.”

·         “My transfemme friend is about to move away, and another transwoman in the community also left for Baker City. She carries a gun because she never feels safe here. I think queer folks here are incredibly resilient and interesting and I would like our stories to be more known without putting anyone at risk.”

·         “This area is an absolutely beautiful place to live, but the “open mindedness” extends only as far as white supremacy and privilege has shown through experience. You can’t meditate away oppression. People here are completely unaware of the BLM movement and revolution needing to continue happening throughout our country and the world, and people here (as a generalization) are completely ignorant to queer history and culture.”

·         “Thanks for trying. I moved here from California because I couldn't afford to live there anymore and it's been a pretty depressing transition, having such a toxic atmosphere to try and survive in. I hope it gets better.”

·         “Recent protests have brought out alt-right white men with their guns. I don't feel safe at all anymore. Can't imagine what QPOC people feel right now.”

·         “I moved here for my ex’s job and got stuck here. I’ve been wanting to get out every day since. Having a community would make a big difference in feeling like this place was even somewhat politically acceptable.”

But there was more troubling data, several indications on how serious of a problem southern Oregon has with bigotry and harassment.

• 77 percent of people reported “feeling like you have to move out of the area to meet your needs or live a good life” at least once. 47 percent of people reported feeling this way frequently or somewhat frequently.
• 80 percent of people reported “feeling unwelcome at a public event or in a public space because of your sexuality, gender or appearance” at least once. 32 percent of people reported feeling this way frequently or somewhat frequently.
• 73 percent of people reported “harassment or bullying because of your sexuality, gender or appearance.” 25 percent of people reported feeling this way frequently or somewhat frequently.
• 83 percent of people reported “feeling you need to hide or change your sexuality, gender, or appearance to avoid harassment or discrimination” at least once. 42 percent of people reported feeling this way frequently or somewhat frequently.
• 32 percent of people reported “being targeted, harassed, or treated with unnecessary force by police because of your sexuality, gender or appearance” at least once. 9 percent of people reported having this experience frequently or somewhat frequently.
• 45 percent of people reported “being threatened with or experiencing physical violence because of your sexuality, gender or appearance.” 12 percent of people having this experience frequently or somewhat frequently.

Little over a month ago, Tyler said he “felt being under pressure and depressed.”

He voluntarily checked himself into a hospital for a 72-hour mental health evaluation. During that time, Tyler said he was able to “sort things out” and think about his life.

“I’m glad I did that, I needed to do that,” he said. “I felt on the edge and needed to get help. It was scary but Eli and a few other friends were there for me. They helped pull me back from the edge. I’m very fortunate. Some aren’t that fortunate.”

It’s a sad, sobering reality. According to the Trevor Project, suicide is a serious problem within the LGBTQ community, especially among younger people.

Here are the facts:

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 24 (Hedegaard, Curtin, & Warner, 2018) – and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth are at significantly increased risk.
• LGBTQ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers.
• The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth (13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S. – and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.
• The Trevor Project’s 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health found that 42 percent of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth. 

It's a lot of information to absorb but that’s the seriousness of the problem. Tyler realized how dangerously close he was to having an emotional breakdown or even suicide. He had a loving partner and a network of close, personal friends who cared for him.

Some aren’t that lucky.

“Have things gotten better? Yeah, some progress has been made. Some,” Tyler said. “But it can always get better. And there’s a lot of uncertainty – especially here. We have a lot of hateful people here in the valley and I worry more will join them. As I said before. Eli and I don’t feel safe here.”

As of this writing, the two plan to move. Ashland or Talent are looking like safe places for them. They’ve even talked about Portland. However, Tyler said the last few times he and Eli were in Ashland, they were met with “unfriendly stares” from people on the streets or in restaurants.

“It was a very unpleasant vibe. Shocking, too. Maybe Ashland isn’t safe, not anymore. Are we safe anywhere? The thing is, I was born here,” Tyler said. “This is my home and the thought of me being forced out of my hometown really pisses me off. I want Eli and I to be safe and happy. That’s all I want for us.

“Is that too much to ask for?”

Those seeking help or question can contact the Rogue Action Center here.

For more information about the survey:

Rogue Action Center LGBTQ+ Community Survey

From The Archives: One Woman's Choice

 Note: This was originally written in November 2016. The Rogue River Press publisher, Teresa Pearson, opted not to run it because she felt the right to life side didn't have enough of "their side" presented. The Oregon Right to Life group didn't have anyone to interview -- they told me to find someone on Facebook. So, the story never ran. This article came about because one of Ms. Pearson's associates -- a devout Catholic -- was saying that "babies were being butchered" and that abortion was being used as a form of birth control. Ms. Pearson asked me to look into this; in doing so, I found the facts and, well, they didn't sit well with Ms. Pearson's views, in my opinion. The facts that abortions have declined over the years, that late-term abortions were rare and done due to extreme circumstances and how mothers are traumatized when faced with such decisions. Because of Ms. Pearson's narrow views, in my opinion, I was never able to tell Jillian Schoene's story or even present the facts.

Here's the article.

By Brad Smith

On Oct. 19, 2016, as she watched the third and final presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Jillian Schoene found herself angered by one remark made by the latter: “You can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month, on the final day.”

The following day, both social media and news outlets were filled with reactions from doctors, nurses and other healthcare specialists, all of whom asserted that Trump was wrong. In The New York Times, Dr. Aaron B. Caughey, the chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at the Oregon Health and Science University, stated that such procedures do not occur in the United States. The doctor cited situations if the woman’s life was at risk – but even then, labor would be induced or a cesarean section performed. Moreover, he added, the term abortion would not be used. In those cases, it is called the induction of labor for a nonviable pregnancy.

Schoene found herself upset as she read the reactions.

“(Trump’s) lack of knowledge really got to me,” she said. “He didn’t know what he was talking about and he made it sound so cavalier. I know – because I had to make a terrible choice that no parent should have to make. You shouldn’t say something like that unless you have all the facts.”

Schoene and her husband had always wanted a family and they were “thrilled beyond belief” after learning she was having a baby.  Learning they were going to have a girl, Schoene and her husband picked out a name – Annabelle Rose. For several weeks, their lives were filled with medical checkups and preparations for Annabelle Rose’s arrival. In August 2012, Schoene had what she thought was a routine checkup with her doctor and at the time, she was 22 weeks pregnant.

The routine checkup took a “shocking turn” when her doctor gave her some news, Schoene said.

According to test results, the doctor said Annabelle Rose had a form of skeletal dysplasia, a genetic condition that would not allow her rib cage to grow. Schoene said it meant that from her daughter’s very first breath after being born, the ribs would prevent her lungs from expanding.

“In other words, she physically wouldn’t be able to breath,” she added. “Along with that, the doctor found other physical and mental developmental complications. It was very heartbreaking to hear. I can’t explain how surreal it is to have a conversation in which your doctor carefully and calmly explains to you that your baby girl will suffocate at birth.”

Schoene’s doctor urged her to seek out other opinions. So, she went to the Oregon Health and Science University and consulted with doctors there. Again, the results were the same and Schoene found herself facing an agonizing decision. “I had two choices: Carry Annabelle Rose to term and watch and listen as she tried to take a breath, but couldn’t – suffer as she gasped for air – or induce delivery at 23 weeks and allow her to quietly and less painfully pass away.”

It was very traumatic, Schoene said, but she knew the right choice had been made.

“My husband and I didn’t want Annabelle Rose to slip away like that. But, the reality was a horrible one,” she said. “What kind of mother would I be if I allowed my baby girl to suffer like that?”

In Oregon, such medical procedures are legal. According to Mary Nolan, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, they are rarely performed.

“We are talking about planned, wanted pregnancies,” she said. “That’s what happened with Jillian. She wanted that baby – but something went wrong. These so-called ‘late term abortions’ total up to one percent or so of procedures performed in the state. That’s one percent – a hundred or so procedures.”

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization focused on reproductive health issues and rights in the United States, of the more than 1 million abortions performed in the United States in 2011, about 12,000, or 1.3 percent happened after 21 weeks, more than halfway through a 40-week pregnancy. In that same year, in Oregon, 65,900 of the 758,988 women of reproductive age became pregnant. 68 percent of these pregnancies resulted in live births and 16 percent in induced abortions, while the rest miscarried. The Institute also reported that in 2011, 10,690 women obtained abortions in Oregon, producing a rate of 14.1 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. Some of these women were from other states, and some Oregon residents had abortions in other states, so this rate may not reflect the abortion rate of state residents. The rate decreased 18 percent since 2008, when it was 17.2 abortions per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44. Abortions in Oregon represent 1.0 percent of all abortions in the country.

“Overall, unwanted births and abortions have been dropping for some time,” Nolan said. “It’s because we have better family planning, better access to contraceptives and more realistic approaches to sex education these days. That’s what we want to see.

“However, in cases like Jillian’s, women need to have that choice available to them. “

Liberty Pike, communications director of the anti-choice organization, Oregon Right to Life, felt that Trump’s statement was valid. “These horrible things happen. It’s very barbaric and it needs to be stopped.” However, Pike did not provide data on such alleged procedures.

Pike’s organization opposes abortions – even in cases of rape and incest – but does feel that the procedures are necessary only when the mother’s or infant’s life is at severe risk. The organization also opposes Oregon’s death with dignity law.

“I really do feel sorry for (Schoene),” she said. “No parent should be put in that situation. I’m glad that she consulted her doctor about it – but what if the doctor was wrong. What if both doctors consulted were wrong? Mistakes can happen. That could have been the case here. Even if the mother carried the infant to full term,” Pike said, “there could have been a chance of life. Again, doctors can make mistakes. We here at ORTL, as I stated before, feel abortions are only necessary when the mother’s or infant’s life is at risk. Was the infant really at risk?”

Schoene said she developed a “good, strong relationship” with her doctor and trusted the diagnosis.

“My doctor knew there was something wrong. We discussed my options and I was urged to seek out another opinion,” she said. “I had one of the best doctors at OHSU examine me and the diagnosis was the same. To even suggest that everyone I talked to was ‘wrong,’ well, that’s ludicrous. I would even say ‘deluded.’”

Schoene said she felt fortunate to be in Oregon, where she could have the medical procedure done.

“I know some people might think I’m terrible and I’ve even been called a murderer,” she said. “Contrary to what those people say, I loved my daughter. I wanted Annabelle Rose to be a beautiful, healthy girl and I wanted to watch her grow up. I wanted so many things.

“Then, that one day in August, it all changed.”

Time passed. Schoene and her husband moved forward with their lives. A few years later, during another routine checkup, Schoene learned she was pregnant.

“I was excited but apprehensive,” she said. “I thought about my daughter during that time. I didn’t want to go through this again. However, I now have a highly energetic boy named Cole and he gets excited about Halloween and Christmas. I’m so glad that we have him. He’s everything that we ever wanted.”

Since her experience, Schoene has worked hard to keep women’s access to healthcare and their right to choose intact. She has testified before legislative hearings and shared her experiences whenever possible. By doing that, Schoene hopes people will have a better understanding of why she has made her choices. – and why other women make similar choices.

"No one should ever have to make that decision," she said. "At least, here in Oregon, if someone has to, they have options available to them."

Christmas Traditions: From Festivus fisticuffs to fried caterpillars

By Brad Smith

‘Tis the season to talk about Christmas traditions throughout the world.

For years, people have embraced the so-called fictional holiday, Festivus. The holiday was first mentioned in an episode of Seinfeld. Personally, I never liked the show – I found all of the characters highly annoying and unlikeable – but I did find the idea of Festivus somewhat amusing. Reportedly, a Seinfeld staff writer’s family had been celebrating Festivus since 1966; Dan O’Keefe’s father Daniel had the holiday as an anniversary celebration of his first date with his future wife and Dan’s mother, Deborah. As detailed in the December 23, 1997, episode, “The Strike,” there is the “airing of grievances,” that happens during dinner: Yes, each person present describes how others have disappointed them over the past year. After the meal, the “feats of strength” ensue, including wrestling with the head of the household to the floor . . . and if and when they’re pinned, the holiday concludes.

According to O’Keefe, there was never a Festivus Pole.

Since then, throughout the world, yes, Festivus has been celebrated on Dec. 23.

However, for many years, a similar holiday tradition has been celebrated in Chumbivilcas, a Peruvian province in the Cusco Region. It’s called Takanakuy – in the regional language Quechua, it means “when the blood is boiling” or “to hit each other,” depending on the source.

On Christmas Day, communities throughout Latin America typically hold large public celebrations, with people in colorful costumes, lots of food, drink, music and dancing. In communities throughout the Cusco Region, however, celebrants flock to the local sporting arenas or public squares for Takanakuy and watch as people of all ages, kids to the elderly, men and women alike, engage in fist fights.

Yes.

Single combat.

Takanakuy is how grievances that people have had with one another over the past year are resolved. Be they personal matters or civil disputes, two people slug it out after calling one another out by name. The victor is decided by knockout or intervention by an official. According to tradition, Takanakuy is how people settle conflicts and resolve to spend the new year living peacefully with one another, strengthening community and even familial bonds.

Until more grievances arise.

The Philippines has the highest population of Catholics in the world. At midnight Sept. 1, radio stations start playing Christmas music, lights and decorations appear everywhere. The city of San Fernando, known as the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines,” hosts Ligligan Parul Sampernandu, the Giant Lantern Festival. Surrounding villages compete against one another as they build large, elaborate lanterns; Japanese origami paper was originally used but now more modern materials are used and the lanterns with their kaleidoscope patterns are lit up by lightbulbs rather than candles.

Some lanterns can be nearly 20 feet in diameter.

In Japan, Christmas isn’t a national holiday but some still observe it . . . by eating chicken, Kentucky Fried Chicken in particular. Back in 1974, some savvy salaryman came up with a marketing campaign called “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii” or “Kentucky for Christmas.” Ever since then, Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii has proven to be very popular in Japan. How popular? Well, KFC restaurants start taking advance orders for holiday meals as far back as September or October or it’s a two or three-hour-long line of people wanting their Christmas chicken meal. Employees also dress as Santa Claus too.

Iceland has a number of Christmas traditions. A small nation yet one with one of the highest literacy rates, there’s the Jólabókaflóðið – the Christmas Book Flood. On Christmas Eve, books – the most popular holiday gift in Iceland – are exchanged and people stay up all night, reading their new books and drinking hot chocolate.

And while most countries observe the 12 Days of Christmas, Iceland has thirteen. Each night leading up to Christmas, the thirteen Yule Lads make their rounds as kids place one shoe in their bedroom window. Good kids get candy and the bad ones get rotten, stinking potatoes. The Yule Lads are elf-like creatures and were once depicted as being somewhat malevolent at times. Over the years, they’ve become more mischievous.

Their mother Grýla, however, is a horrific ogress living in the mountains. She’s always on the prowl around Christmas, searching for naughty children to throw in her cauldron of boiling hot water.

Icelandic folklore also has a large black cat that prowls the country on Christmas Eve – everyone must get new clothes and if not, the Christmas Cat will kill and eat them.

Be thankful for those new socks or ties, okay?

In Barbados at Christmastime, people eat Jug Jug: Influenced by Scottish immigrants, it’s a dish that combines salted meat, pigeon peas, guinea corn flour and herbs. Glazed ham and rum also round out holiday meals.

Going back to pagan beliefs, on Christmas Eve, Norwegians hide all of the household brooms in closets, in the fear that evil witches will take them and fly about all night.

That said, in parts of Italy, a good witch named Belfana travels about, leaving gifts and candy for kids.

Instead of candy, kids in South Africa snack on delicious fried caterpillars. Seriously.

If you’re ever in Caracas, Venezuela during Christmastime, be prepared to see people wearing rollerblades; skating to church services is so common that officials keep vehicles off the roads.

For years now, some people have Christmas dinner at Chinese restaurants. Over a century ago, Jewish immigrants could dine out on Christmas because everything was shut down. Save for Chinese restaurants. By the late 19th Century, Jewish and Chinese immigrants often lived close to one another, so, proximity was a factor. Another was that the Chinese didn’t adhere to antisemitic views held by other European immigrants or Americans. They felt safe there.

As New York restauranter Michael Tong said in a 2003 New York Times interview:

“Welcome to the conundrum that is Christmas New York style: While most restaurants close for the holiday, or in a few cases, stay open and serve a prix fixe meal laden with froufrou, thousands of diners, most of them Jewish, are faced with a dilemma. There's nothing to celebrate at home and no place to eat out, at least if they want a regular dinner. That leaves Chinese restaurants . . . .”

When the film A Christmas Story was released in November 1983, the practice of having Chinese food for a holiday meal gained more popularity.

Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, Merry Christmas and a Blessed Yule.

 

Accused murderer Keegan faces trial next year

More than a year after his death, Aidan Ellison's killer will be in court

By Brad Smith

MEDFORD, Ore. – According to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, accused murderer Robert Keegan, 48, will be facing trial more than a year after shooting a young, unarmed Black man.

“(Keegan) will have a Feb. 24, 2022 court appearance and the trial is slated to start on Feb. 28,” said Benjamin Lull, a deputy district attorney. “DDA Samantha Olson will be the co-counsel. It should last about three weeks.”

By then, it will be one year, three months and eight days since Keegan shot and killed 19-year-old Aidan Ellison outside Ashland’s Stratford Inn. An Almeda Fire survivor, he was reportedly sitting in his car, which was located in the motel’s parking lot and listening to music. Keegan, who was also a fire survivor, was reportedly awakened by loud music at around 4 a.m. He went outside and allegedly asked Ellison to turn down the music.

Ellison reportedly declined to do that.

Court records added a few more details to the incident. Keegan told police that he returned to his room, got dressed, put the 9mm semiauto pistol in his jacket pocket and went to the front desk. He spoke to an employee about his concerns. The employee then went out to the parking lot and spoke with Ellison. As they talked, Keegan went outside and then confronted the young man. That is how the argument started. Keegan claimed that Ellison attacked him.

Reportedly, the murder suspect told police officers that he had “racked a round and shot Ellison in the chest because he was in fear for his personal safety.”

A former law enforcement officer said they were “concerned” by Keegan’s account.

“’Racked a round?’ That’s something you find in badly written private eye stories or other macho pulp crap novels,” they said. “It’s my opinion – my opinion, mind you – that Keegan was the aggressor here. He was looking for a confrontation. It sounds like the motel employee was doing their job and (Keegan) made things worse. In my opinion, (Keegan) is just another macho fuckup with a gun and a bad attitude.”

Keegan claimed that Ellison hit him in the face a number of times and that he acted in self-defense by shooting him. However, the autopsy showed that Ellison’s hands lacked bruising or marks consistent with a physical assault. More to the point, Keegan’s face wasn’t bruised or marked.

Keegan was taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, unlawful possession of a firearm (Keegan didn't have a concealed weapon permit) and recklessly endangering another person – he fired the weapon near a motel employee. He was booked into the Jackson County Jail and has been there ever since.

Ellison’s murder came after months of protests from Black Lives Matter supporters and their allies – which were countered by right wing extremists’ outcries. There was outrage throughout the Southern Oregon area and even ire at some local media outlets. Some news outlets went into detail about Keegan’s alleged plight as someone displaced by September’s Almeda Fire while extraordinarily little was said about the victim. Making it even worse were others who demanded to see Ellison’s alleged criminal record – which, to date, none has materialized.

As some local media outlets published articles about a vigil on social media, racism reared its ugly head from time to time. It got so bad that in one case, KTVL banned “Elijah Rebel Kruis” for promoting hate speech, they said. Kruis’ Facebook page was adorned with Confederate flags and far-right posts. Others, like William Meehan, Jr. and Ronald King, blamed Ellison for playing “crap rap music” too loud and said the victim was being “disrespectful.” In short, they victim shamed.

Last month, on the year anniversary of Ellison’s murder, the Truth to Power Club held a mural dedication ceremony at the Ashland High School. The group said the mural was honoring Ellison’s life along with the lives of Oregon’s Black, Indigenous, and people of color leaders, both activists and artists alike. In true Southern Oregon fashion, local bigots blasted the comments section, wasting no time as they attacked and victim-shamed Ellison.

It was reported that Keegan didn’t have a criminal record, something his defenders commented about. However, in 2012, his then-wife filed a restraining order against him when they lived in Coos County. She claimed that Keegan was both physically and emotionally abusive to both her and their son. Fearing for her safety, she went into hiding and has tried to regain custody of her son. She told The Rogue Free Press that she received threats from Keegan prior to the shooting.

Since the shooting, there have been claims from a few motel employees saying Keegan was “disruptive and aggressive” during his stay. Some hinted that there were concerns about his behavior and some staffers wanted him relocated elsewhere. 

Southern Oregon Coalition for Racial Equity (SOEquity) research director Dominique Toyer said this: “Here in the Rogue Valley, Black people are navigating through a predominantly white area in a time where a 17-year-old white kid can be a vigilante but Aidan couldn’t play his music in a parking lot. Black folks are constantly surrounded by our white neighbors and coworkers who are able to comfortably discuss if Black pain is legitimate. I am so tired of white rage and white complacency dictating if my Blackness is worthy of justice.”

Toyer wished that more people would take a stand against racism and other forms of oppression. “Neutrality doesn't make you a good person and I really wish more people understood that,” she said.

Lull said updates would be made should there be changes in the trial scheduling.

Arrest warrant issued for ex Gold Hill employee

Carry Booker was accused of theft and falsifying records

By Brad Smith

GOLD HILL, Ore. – A warrant for a former Gold Hill city employee was issued after she failed to make a court appearance.

Carry Kay Booker (aka Carry Randall) was scheduled to make a 9 a.m. court appearance on July 7.

Booker was employed as a clerk and worked in the city hall offices. In the wake of Harry Staven’s departure as city manager – which was reportedly tumultuous and brief – city/manager Jessica Simpson started looking at the finances. The alleged theft was discovered as she was reconciling bank statements.

A forensic audit was requested and completed by June of that year. After turning the evidence over to law enforcement, the Jackson County District Attorney’s office elected to pursue charges against the former employee. Booker was indicted by a grand jury on April 28 for her alleged role in the theft of monies.

She is facing four counts of first-degree theft and two counts of falsifying business records.

The warrant for her arrest was issued on July 16.

In a press release, it was stated, “The City remains hopeful that justice will be served, and thanks the residents for their patience while awaiting resolution in this matter.”

Rumors of the alleged thefts plagued local social media pages for months. Former city councilor Christine Alford claimed that other city employees were involved with the thefts one way or another. Last summer, Alford caused problems at a Dollar General store when she confronted a city employee and verbally assaulted them, as well as making accusations the employee was a part of the alleged thefts.

Alford was soon asked to leave the store as she reportedly spewed profanities during the incident.

Alford later claimed that law enforcement officers had in their possession audio recordings implicating other city employees.

“That’s news to me,” Simpson said earlier this year. “I haven’t been told about that and the investigation only found one suspect.”

Assistant Deputy Attorney Ruby Herriot of the Jackson Co. D.A.’s Office is prosecuting the case.

The Bully Pulpit

For a number of years, the RV Saltshakers have used their bully pulpit to go after healthcare providers and the LGBTQ community. Some are pushing back.

Top: The RV Saltshakers placed signs with hate messages on a church lawn. Below: Saltshaker Jon Peterman is caught on video as he hurled racial slurs. Photos courtesy of RV Pepper Shakers.

By Brad Smith

GRANTS PASS, Ore. – For the last few years, a hate group have disrupted life for some here in the Rogue Valley as they harass and bully those they disagree with or challenges them.

They have targeted events and individuals from Ashland and Talent to churches in Grants Pass. They have caused problems at Boatnik, the Pear Blossoms Parade, Talent’s fall festival and even Ashland’s holiday parade.

They are called the RV Saltshakers and they’ve weaponized religion to suit their agenda, their critics say.

Newman United Methodist Church’s Rev. Ryan Scott expected some cultural differences when he came to this part of southern Oregon in July 2019, having served in United Methodist churches in Eugene, Springfield and other communities. “Before being assigned to Grants Pass, I was at a church in Toledo, just outside of Newport,” he said. “I’ve been exposed to both conservative and progressive mindsets over the years. The congregation was very welcoming and I felt at ease here. I love it here.”

However, over the past few months, his church has had some issues with the Saltshakers. Scott said a small number of Saltshakers have appeared on Sunday mornings, standing on the sidewalk along the church property. They first appeared in February – not long after the church displayed a Pride flag.

Scott said he had heard about the Saltshakers disrupting a number of local events over the years. There were some incidents in which Saltshakers verbally assaulted congregation members and even attempted to block access to the church.

“Police were called and (the Saltshakers) were told to stay off church property,” he said. “Since then, there haven’t been any incidents. We did have our flag and Black Lives Matter signs stolen. They were replaced and it got to the point no one bothered them again.”

Scott has tried “extending the olive branch.” During hot weather, he has offered the protestors water to drink. It was, he added, the Christian thing to do.

“They always refuse the water,” he said. “And they don’t seem too communicative, either.”

The RV Saltshakers claim to be “evangelical Christians who are doing God’s work.” Spearheaded by a man named Jon Clement, the Saltshakers can be found picketing women’s health clinics and displaying very graphic pictures of aborted fetuses. They also have signs with trans- and homophobic messages on them.

The Saltshakers are abortion abolitionists: From the Abolish Human Abortion website, it’s stated that “. . . .  Abolitionists reject the idea that you can effectively fight evil by allowing it in some cases or do away with it by planned out incremental steps which preserve it along the way. Abolitionists reject the notion that you can ever commit evil in order that good may come. Abolitionists cry NO COMPROMISE!!! Pro-lifers cry “get the best that you can get when you can get it,” and consistently support the ‘lesser of two evils.’”

Abolitionists advocate more aggressive tactics and the use of graphic signs and posters. They also have animosity to the Catholic Church (Catholics pray to angels, for instance) and the LGBTQ community. More information can be found here: https://abolishhumanabortion.com/

Some have joined the Saltshakers and spent time with them – only to later leave. Growing up in Ashland, Gabriel Macias would watch the Saltshakers in action. In 2015, Macias saw the Saltshakers protesting and he decided to check it out. During an earlier interview with The Rogue Free Press, he opened up about his experiences with the Saltshakers.

“It was in the fall. That’s when it happened,” he said. “I was at the Ashland High School and one day, right across the street, I saw these people – they had signs, megaphones, they were chanting. I was curious, very curious. So, I went over to talk to them.”

That’s when Macias first met Jon Clement, the Saltshakers’ leader, and Mason Goodknight of the Community Outreach Evangelism or CORE, based out of Roseburg. Both men took an interest in him.

“They were very friendly, welcoming,” he said. “They asked me a lot of questions, they started talking to me about God, Jesus, things like that. They seemed like they wanted to be my friends.”

And, Macias said, that is part of the trap.

“Many in the Saltshakers, especially Clement and senior members, are predatory,” he said. “I mean, they find your weaknesses and target them, that’s how they get your guard down and get you to join. They knew I didn’t have a strong support system, they knew my father wasn’t a part of my life. Clement and Goodknight, along with the others, acted like they were more than friends, like surrogate family members.”

Macias said he was not the only one targeted that way.

“There were other kids and the same thing happened to them,” he said. “And adults who were targeted because they didn’t have much of family themselves. They were lonely and felt a need to be wanted, liked. Saltshakers filled that void for them.”

Clement, Goodknight and others in the Saltshakers/CORE group were “aggressive,” using megaphones to scream at people and provoking others to argue. Macias watched as women walked up to a Planned Parenthood clinic and “were swarmed by Saltshakers who yelled and screamed at them.” Saltshakers would also follow women down the street, waving signs and picture of aborted fetuses in their face.

“It was all very intense and very intrusive,” he said. “Looking back at it now, it was wrong and sickening. How can you treat people like that?”

According to a young woman who wants to be identified only as “Crystal,” Saltshakers have no qualms about “verbally assaulting and terrorizing women.” She claimed that she has had “terrifying encounters” with the Saltshakers, the most recent one while at the Grants Pass Growers Market.

“I was helping at a booth when I’d noticed the Saltshakers were close by. I politely asked them if they could move away, because their presence was making most people uneasy,” Crystal said. “The next thing I know, they proceeded to yell at me, calling me a ‘whore of Satan’ and said I had dead babies in my closet.

“Yes. They said that. I was so upset I was shaking for almost an hour. Those people are disgusting.”

Crystal said she walked away and believed that security or police had been called in. It wasn’t her first encounter with the hate group.

“One time, I was walking downtown and (Saltshakers) were protesting at the health clinic. They saw my tattoos and started yelling at me,” she said. “They chased me back to my car. There was no reason for that attack.”

Clement has been vocal about Saltshaker tactics over the years. In interviews, he admitted that intimidation was a “valuable tool.”

“It’s how we get our message across and let others know that we’ll never back down,” he said.

To the Saltshakers, what they perceive as “God’s law” overrules actual laws.

“Rules and regulations mean nothing to them,” Macias said. “They’ll push everything to the limit, just enough to get their message across. Now, when I was with them, they never talked about doing anything violent. It was just getting in people’s faces, yelling, screaming, harassing. Things like that.”

What bothered Macias the most was how Saltshakers “weaponized their kids.”

“Parents would bring their kids to these protests and it was very disturbing,” he said. “Kids would be holding these signs and pictures, saying things they didn’t understand – it was wrong. It bordered on child abuse; I feel. And, then they exposed other kids to those awful pictures and they felt it was the right thing to do.

“It was sickening.”

Meantime, Macias was also dealing with another secret: Being a closeted gay teen.

“Looking back at it, that was a big thing,” he said. “I was living this double life and we know how that will eventually tear people apart. I thought I could fill this void by being with the Saltshakers and it did not last long. I wasn’t being myself, I was not a nice person. I lashed out at my grandmother and others close to me. I didn’t like who I was.”

A year after being with the Saltshakers, Macias said he knew things had to change.

“It was time to come out, to come clean with myself and everyone else,” he said. “I had to do it before I imploded. So, I posted everything on Facebook. It felt good but there was a backlash from the Saltshakers.”

Some Saltshakers told Macias that he needed to repent or he would “burn in hell.”

“People I thought who were my friends said that I was a horrible sinner and some even called me ‘Judas,’” he said. “See, in their view, Jesus is all about hellfire, damnation and brimstone. A vengeful wrath of judgment and it just went against everything I believed in. There’s no love or mercy. It’s all about hellfire and damnation.”

It's apparent the Saltshakers have no compassion or understanding for Macias and others like him. However, the United Methodist Church has been very inclusive regarding the LGBTQ community for many years. According to the official website, the church states:

The United Methodist Church affirms that sexuality is “God’s good gift to all persons.”

This affirmation begins the denomination’s statement on Human Sexuality. It is one of several statements describing the church’s teachings on sexuality.

The Church affirms that all people are of sacred worth and are equally valuable in the sight of God. It is committed to be in ministry with all people. The Church “implores families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends.”

Underlying this is the constitutional principle of inclusiveness of the church. Everyone is welcome to worship and actively participate in the life of our churches. Laypersons may become members and live out their faith through their local church without respect to sexual orientation or practice.

The Church deplores acts of hate and violence against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity and believes human rights and civil liberties are due all people, regardless of sexual orientation.

Scott himself is gay and is married – he and his husband had their ceremony last September.

“There are a number of gay couples in the congregation,” he said. “Our church accepts and welcomes them. That will never change and the Saltshakers haven’t deterred them from attending services. In fact, those signs they use have become free advertising for us. We’re seeing new faces during our services. I’m good with that.”

Scott said he avoids directly engaging the Saltshakers – however, some have a different view.

Toren McKnight and Samantha Clum are the RV Pepper Shakers. Together, they have had several face-to-face confrontations with a number of the Saltshakers, particularly Jon and Cassandra “Casie” Peterman, group leader Clement and members such as convicted child abuser Trevor Emptage and Ben Steers.

McKnight, a recent high school graduate, remembered watching the Saltshakers protesting events in Ashland and throughout the Rogue Valley.

“It angered me,” he said. “What they did was wrong and I always wanted to do something about it. Finally, one day, I did do something about it.”

He finally did.

If the Saltshakers were picketing Medford’s Planned Parenthood clinic, McKnight would show up with his own signs. Alone, he would stand there, no matter, the weather, standing his ground despite the heckling and taunts from Saltshakers. Then, one day last year, Clum appeared on the scene.

“I was driving by and saw Toren there and the Saltshakers. I stopped my car and got out, stood there with him,” she said. “I had seen (Saltshakers) protesting and wanted to do something, stand up to them. That day, I finally made the choice.”

The RV Pepper Shakers were born.

Over the last year, Clum and McKnight have had several confronted the Saltshakers on several occasions. A few times, they have helped escort women to the clinic doors and have earned the ire of Casie Peterman.

“She’s very vindictive, very hateful,” Clum said. “She’s made social media posts calling me a ‘lesbian abortion worshipping witch’ and other despicable things. Casie is very fond of body shaming me and calling me ‘fat.’ Does it bother me? It’s like this: Casie is a bully, nothing else, nothing more. She has nothing good or positive in her life – so, she feels that she has to act like a spoiled brat in grade school, putting others down to make herself feel good. That’s pathetic, right?

“At the end of the day, I do feel good about myself. I’m out there, one way or another, helping people. Yes, even protecting my LGBTQ friends from monsters like Casie and her husband. At the end of the day, I can look at myself in the mirror and feel good about it.”

McKnight said it’s just the two of them taking on the “bigots,” referring to the Saltshakers.

“The ‘Shakers are inconsistent with the picketing, especially since Sam and I started our thing,’ he said. “It used to be they had a schedule of when and where they would picket – it made our job easier, knowing that and how we could respond. However, when Jon, Casie and the others realized we would show up, they changed their game.”

If McKnight or Clum are out driving and spot the Saltshakers protesting, both are quick to notify their Facebook group about it.

“If possible, we both try to be there and confront them,” he said. “Sometimes, a few others will see the post and come out to help. But, usually, it’s the two of us and it’s hard for others to take off at a moment’s notice.”

One time, someone offered to show up some with an airhorn and blast it at the Saltshakers.

“While I did like the idea, it would be too disruptive for others working in the area. I had to say no,” he said.

In the past, it was a common tactic for anti-abortion groups to find the addresses of those working at health clinics, then show up and picket their private homes. McKnight said he would never do that.

“It sounds good, right? But, no, it could lead to trespassing on private property and other conflicts,” he said. “No, we wouldn’t do something like that.”

Public reception varies. If the Pepper Shakers are in Ashland, the general public reacts positively, Clum said.

“If we’re in Medford, the reaction is rather mixed,” she explained. “Grants Pass – the reactions can be less favorable. It just depends.”

Aside from the Petermans, one of the more infamous Saltshakers is Trevor Maurice Emptage.

On March 4, 2012, Rogue Regional Medical Center ER doctors contacted law enforcement after seeing a 1-year-old girl with first and second degree burns to her feet. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated and found that her foster father, Emptage, was angry after the child had defecated in the bathtub – there was evidence showing the child was held in scalding hot water by force.

It was later discovered that Emptage was arrested for domestic assault in 2008.

Emptage would later plead guilty to second-degree assault as additional counts of first-degree assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment were dismissed in a plea agreement. While second-degree assault is a Measure 11 offense, Emptage received a sentence of 34 months rather than the mandatory 70 months due to having no criminal record. Emptage’s wife and members from his church wrote letters asking for no jail sentence. He was ordered to turn himself in by July 2, 2013.

Emptage was seen on video recordings harassing people outside of the Medford Planned Parenthood clinic on Nov. 3. When Pepper Shaker counter protestors confronted Emptage about his child abusing past, he countered that he had “found Jesus and was saved.”

Evidently, while being in church, he hadn’t found Jesus before and it’s not clear if having a criminal record is a prerequisite for RV Saltshaker membership.

“I’ve talked to (Trevor) about that incident,” McKnight said. “He told me that God’s forgiven him – but he has no remorse for what happened.”

More recently – and disturbing – Keith “Biome Michael” Erickson, a neo-Nazi who has caused problems for many over the years, appeared at the Grants Pass Growers Market.

McKnight recorded the encounter and posted it on the Pepper Shakers’ Facebook page.

“It was a classic Biome moment,” he said. “He denied being a Nazi and then said Nazis were n____rs. And he was sticking up for the Saltshakers. I wouldn’t be surprised if showed up again and sided with them.”

Clum has video of Jon Peterman repeating “n____r” over and over again. Another video has his wife Casie pulling a small knife on a Black Jewish man.

“It does make you wonder about them,” she said. “What other agendas and beliefs are they hiding? What else will we see or hear them do? It’s disturbing.’

Clum does have a point.

It’s disturbing when those claiming to be Christians go after other Christians in a hateful manner. It’s disturbing when a group uses children as props to push their hateful agenda. It’s disturbing when innocent families are subjected to graphic, bloody pictures as they attend a Christmas parade.

It is disturbing.

Pastor Scott said he has no plans to directly engage the hate group. “I’m a Christian and my response will mirror those beliefs. As it is, thanks to them, I see new faces in church and I know they are there to support us. I find comfort in that.”

McKnight and Clum, however, are not backing down.

“From the first time I saw the Saltshakers, I knew they were wrong,” McKnight said. “I was a kid but I knew then what I had to do. Here I am, standing up for what’s right and standing up for others. I’m not stopping.”

Clum agrees with her friend.

“This is the right thing to do,” she said. “Someone has to take a stand and that’s what Toren and I are doing. Even if we’re the only ones out there, we will keep standing up to those bullies and bigots and we will not back down. Not one goddamned inch.”

For more information about McKnight and Clum’s group and how to support them, information can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/roguevalleypeppershakers