State Senator Jason Atkinson, a Central Point Republican, is drawing up plans to ban suction dredge mining in Oregon.

Oregon’s DEQ issued 1,205 dredging permits this year, 30 percent more than last year, and the number of California residents with permits jumped 67 percent.

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Health officials lifted the advisory against water contact at Willow Lake yesterday. Water tests show the levels of the blue green algae, technically bacteria, and any associated toxins were well below safety thresholds for contact by humans and pets.

The warning posters came down yesterday 120 days after they were first installed making the advisory the second longest in Oregon history.

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Firefighters are gaining on the Oak Flat fire burning 20 miles west of Grants Pass. At last report the fire had consumed 1,338 acres. As of Thursday evening 60 percent of the fire had been lined and U.S. Forest service personnel were estimating about 15 percent containment.

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If stopping for pedestrians isn’t what you normally do when you’re driving through town, you might want to think twice on Monday.

The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety will hold the first of four pedestrian operations on Monday at the intersection of Southeast M and Southeast 8th streets.

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An Oregon Department of Forestry helicopter spotted smoke and flames spreading rapidly shortly after six last night in the 8000 block of Jump Off Joe Creek.

Rural Metro was notified and responded to the flames that were next to a residence. The fire was contained at a half acre and extinguished. The structure was not damaged.

The fire is believed to be lightning caused.

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The Josephine County fair enters its third day today with the Bull Mania scheduled for the Grandstand entertainment with the show scheduled for 7:00 tonight.

Grandstand seating is free with your paid admission. The Paul Maurer carnival gets underway at noon with armbands costing $28.

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Aerial reconnaissance of the Oak Flat fire with infrared equipment puts the acreage burned at 1,338 acres this morning and reports from the command center put containment at 15 percent.

Today firefighters plan to continue burning out additional fuels along the fire lines extending the width to a couple of hundred yards, hopefully enough to stop fire’s advance.

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The half-brother of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis apologized to family, friends and the community before being led off to begin serving a 30 day jail sentence.

As part of a negotiated plea agreement James Auchincloss pled guilty to two felony counts of first degree encouraging child sexual abuse.

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The Oak Flat fire continues to burn in steep rugged terrain, ten miles northwest of Selma.

At last report there were 27 twenty person hand crews and nine engines working in two shifts to build containment lines around the fire. The conflagration was considered to be ten percent contained.

Managers expect favorable conditions for conducting burnout operations the next few days. Depending on conditions, additional smoke will be visible.

Some fire lines from the 2002 Biscuit Fire are being improved in case they are required for this burn. All efforts are being made to reduce the size of the burned area, to minimize smoke generation, and to avoid impacts to private lands.

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A salmonella outbreak that has sickened 23 Oregonians, including 2 in Josephine County and 3 in Jackson County, has prompted the recall of certain milk and drink products from Umpqua Dairy.

Milk, half and half, cream and buttermilk as well as Umpqua Dairy brand orange juice and fruit drinks are part of the recall. Ice cream and other dairy products, including sour cream and cottage cheese are not part of the recall.

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