News release Curry Co. Sheriff’s Office. On 01-09-17 the Curry County Sheriff’s Office was notified by Jackson County SAR member John Rachor who had called to report an injured man at Paradise Lodge. Rachor said they were notified by radio that forty-nine year old male subject had fallen from a ladder and hurt his back while working at the Paradise Lodge east of Agness. The only access to Paradise Lodge is either by boat or air and with the river close to flood stage Rachor stated that Brim Aviation out of Medford was willing to fly in with a helicopter and transport the injured subject out. It was learned later that Brim Aviation was not able to fly in due to the weather and the injured subject, Ronald Laughery out of Medford, Or., had decided he was ok. On 01-10-17 at about 8:15am, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office was advised that Ronald Laughery was now stating he was having medical issues due to the fall the day before and needed to be transported out. With heavy rains and high winds, a helicopter was out of the question and with the severe storm Curry County is experiencing, the Rogue River was at flood stage with large debris in the river. At this point, communication systems at Paradise Lodge were not working and it was very hard to get any information in or out. With very little medical information to go on due to the poor communication issues, Curry County Commissioner Court Boice and local Agness fishing guide, Jon Carl, volunteered to take a boat from Agness to Paradise Lodge, a distance of about 22 miles up-river. Commissioner Boice and Jon Carl were able to make it to Paradise Lodge by boat and transport Ronald Laughery back to Agness. According to medical personnel who were waiting in Agness, Laughery did not show signs of injury and he refused any further medical treatment. It is amazing that we have community members like Commissioner Court Boice and Jon Carl who would risk their lives and equipment. With little regard to their own safety, they took a boat twenty-two miles from Agness to Paradise Lodge when the river was near flood stage, rapids were very dangerous and a lot of debris in the river to help someone else.
