Local News

Governor Kotek Visited RCC Table Rock Campus in One Oregon Listening Tour
As part of Governor Tina Kotek's One Oregon Listening Tour, Kotek toured Rogue Community College's Table Rock Campus in White City last Friday. Governor Kotek's One Oregon Listening Tour is comprised of her commitment to visiting every county in the state in her first year in office and building strong, working partnerships. These efforts focus on housing, mental health, addiction care and education. Kotek spent an hour at the RCC Table Rock Campus where she was provided with information, demonstrations and a walking tour of the school's Emergency Medical Services Simulation Lab, Health Professions Center, Nursing Simulation Lab and Allied Health programs. RCC President Randy Weber said it was a great opportunity to show the governor how the community college is preparing the future workforce and supporting local industry in these high-demand fields. The Health Professions Center and High Tech Center on the Table Rock Campus are designed to promote professional and skills-based training with the newest technology in a collaborative learning environment for students, the community and business partners.
Posted on 10/10/23 4:53AM by Chuck Benson
 

Board Expected to Approve Ordinance Updating Farm and Forest Land Zoning
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve an ordinance amending the Rural Land Development Code for farm and forest zones during its weekly business session tomorrow. The Board will hold a public hearing on the second reading of the ordinance and then vote to approve the amendments to exclusive farm, farm resource, forest commercial and woodlot resource zones. The amendments are the result of new laws mandated by the Oregon Legislature and the code concerning farm and forest lands in Josephine County has not been updated since 2005. The code amendments were vetted by the Rural Planning Commission, which recommended their approval to the Board. In a second public hearing, the Commissioners will consider two annexations to the Josephine Community Library District. The annexation requests were made by petition of the landowners. There will also be Requests and Comments from Citizens when citizens are given three minutes to speak to the Board on just about any topic concerning Josephine County.
Posted on 10/10/23 4:45AM by Chuck Benson
 

Activity Winding Down as Containment Increases on Anvil Fire in SW Oregon
Activity is winding down as containment increases on the most dangerous wildfire still burning in southwest Oregon. Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 reported Monday that the Anvil Fire was 22,170 acres with increased containment of 60%. There were 636 personnel assigned to the wildfire yesterday including 14 hand crews backed by 14 engines and two helicopters. Crews on the east side of the Anvil Fire completed backhaul of equipment and continued to monitor remaining areas of heat last weekend. Excavators in the area are completing suppression repair on dozer lines. Chipping along the 81 Road on the northwest perimeter of the fire is complete. Suppression repair is ongoing on the northern dozer lines. An infrared flight in this area showed minimal heat that well inside the containment line. Suppression repair near Elk River Road is nearly complete. On the south perimeter, mastication is complete and chipping operations are almost to the end of the 5502 Road. Transfer of command from Southwest Team 1 to Northwest Team 12 will occur this m
Posted on 10/10/23 4:43AM by Chuck Benson
 

Douglas County Teen Cited for Causing Wreck on NB I-5 in Josephine County
A Douglas County teenager was cited for causing a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle collision in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 73 last Saturday afternoon. According to OSP, an investigation indicated that a 17-year-old Azalea boy was driving a Hyundai Elantra when he merged into the fast lane in front of a Mercedes Benz van driven by a 30-year-old San Francisco, California, woman. They said the young motorist misjudged distances, was hit by the Mercedes and overcorrected, coming to an uncontrolled rest in the freeway median. No one was hurt, but the Hyundai sustained heavy overall damage and was towed to Grants Pass. The Mercedes sustained minimal damage and was driven away.
Posted on 10/10/23 4:41AM by Chuck Benson
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Josephine County DA Deciding Whether to Charge Washington Man for UUMV
The Josephine County District Attorney's Office was deciding whether to file charges against a Washington man who was caught driving a stolen pickup by the Oregon State Police last weekend. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a GMC Sierra driven by 49-year-old Dusty Lee Bartlett of Vancouver on southbound Interstate 5 near milepost 66 late Friday. Troopers said they stopped Bartlett because the pickup was traveling 101 miles per hour. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the GMC had switched plates. The vehicle identification number was obtained and it was discovered that the pickup had been reported stolen out of Tillamook County. Bartlett and his 32-year-old female passenger were interviewed and then released. The stolen pickup was hauled into Grants Pass by Goodfellas Towing.
Posted on 10/10/23 4:40AM by Chuck Benson
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GP Police Jailed Woman for Felony Drug Possession & Trespassing at City Park
Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for unlawfully returning to camp at a city park and for felony possession of narcotics last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 44-year-old Stephanie Kaye Fuentes at Riverside Park on Sunday at 7:36 p.m.. Police said they contacted Fuentes during a verbal harassment investigation and she was found to have been the subject of a 30-day exclusion order from the park only three days prior. She was placed into custody for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and during a consent search, she was found to be in possession of more than 11 grams of methamphetamine in her pants pock
Posted on 10/10/23 4:39AM by Chuck Benson
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Deputies Jailed Man for Violating Court Order by Threatening to Shoot Mother
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for violating a court order last weekend when he caused a disturbance in the Wonder area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 40-year-old David Brian Rich for the incident in the 12,400-block of Redwood Highway on Sunday at 1:16 a.m..Deputies said Rich's mother called 9-1-1 to report that her son came over to her house, starting screaming at her and yelling at her grandchildren. The caller said her son kept banging on her trailer door and is known to carry knives. She had a valid restraining order protecting her from him. Upon arrival, deputies took precautions because Rich was threatening to shoot and kill his mother, and he had made threats in the past to kill law enforcement. He was detained and placed into custody without incident.
Posted on 10/10/23 4:38AM by Chuck Benson
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GP Police Jailed Felon for Parole Violation after He was Caught Doing Drugs
Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for violating terms of his post-prison supervision after he was caught doing drugs in the parking lot of a restaurant early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 33-year-old Corey James Elmore in the parking lot outside Elmer's Restaurant on NE Agness Avenue on Sunday at 1:15 a.m.. Police said they were performing a patrol check when they observed two subjects actively using drugs in a Ford Ranger pickup. Upon contact with Elmore, they saw drugs and paraphernalia in plain view and -- when seized and weighed -- the drugs were found to be criminal amounts of methamphetamine and heroin. According to the report, Elmore was the passenger and he was discovered to be on post-prison supervision in Jackson County. His corrections officer was contacted and requested his client be arrested for Parole Violation. He was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail awaiting transfer to the jail facility in Medford. Elmore's backpack was searched and additional drugs, paraphernalia and brass knuckles were located and seized. Once all the items are inventoried, additional charges will be added to his criminal bill. The other person was not identified.
Posted on 10/9/23 11:03AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Patrol Collared Fugitive Wanted on Outstanding Felony Warrant
Grants Pass Police apprehended a fugitive wanted on an outside felony warrant during a weekend patrol check on the east side of the city. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 37-year-old Lillian Ruth Stohlman in the 100-block of NE Agness Avenue around 9 p.m. Saturday. Police said they observed Stohlman in the driver's seat of her vehicle. They ran the license plates and learned that she was wanted on a Curry County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to recent arrests for Theft, Resisting Arrest, Escape, Reckless Driving, Methamphetamine Possession and Possession of a Marijuana Item. Lillian Stohlman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. She was awaiting transfer to the Curry County Jail in Gold Beach.
Posted on 10/9/23 11:01AM by Sam Marsh
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Weekend Calls at GP Shopping Center Led to Probation Violation Arrest
Multiple weekend complaints at the Grants Pass Shopping Center led to the arrest of a woman for violating terms of her probation along with two other charges. Grants Pass Police responded to reports of disorderly conduct near Glidden Paint in the 300-block of NE Beacon Drive on Saturday at about 11:25 a.m.. Police said 29-year-old Carly Brooke Jensen was acting disorderly and causing public alarm by displaying her rear end and exposing her breasts to passersby. When officers contacted her, she attempted to flee by walking away. She was placed into custody without incident and her corrections officer was notified. Carly Jensen was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Escape plus the resulting Probation Violation related to arrests for Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct. She was being held at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 10/9/23 10:59AM by Sam Marsh
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Wolf Creek Man Snared for DUII after He Caused Crash on I-5 Overpass
A Wolf Creek man was arrested for impaired driving after he crashed into another vehicle on an Interstate 5 overpass and sent three people -- including himself -- to the hospital. The Oregon State Police reports troopers, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision on the freeway overpass near milepost 66 on Saturday around 8:50 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation determined that 22-year-old Joaquin Orlin Bushnell-Robles was driving a Jeep Wrangler when he failed to obey a stop sign and drove into the path of a Mitsubishi Lancer driven by 26-year-old Francisco Alejandro Bedoya-Tinajero of Grants Pass. The Jeep struck the Mitsubishi on the driver side, causing major damage to both vehicles. Both were towed to Grants Pass. According to OSP, Bushnell-Robles and Bedoya-Tinajero as well as a 21-year-old female passenger in the Jeep were all transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. During the investigation, Bushnell-Robles displayed indicators of impairment and refused to provide a blood test. A search warrant was applied for and granted, which resulted in him being charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. He was cited to appear in court and released to medical staff at the hospital.
Posted on 10/9/23 10:58AM by Sam Marsh
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CJ Man Cited for 4 Violations including DUII after Highway 199 Crash
A Cave Junction man was cited for multiple violations including drugged driving after he struck another vehicle on Redwood Highway in Selma and fled the scene. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle crash near milepost 20 of US Highway 199 on Saturday at 5:02 p.m.. Troopers said 43-year-old Joseph Michael Evans was driving a Toyota Tundra when he crashed into a Toyota RAV-4 driven by 40-year-old Isaac James Lowther of Merlin. They said Evans abandoned his vehicle at the scene and fled on foot, but he was located a short time later after a nearby trespassing complaint was received. Upon contact with Evans, troopers said signs of impairment were observed and he performed poorly in field sobriety tests. He was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis and Controlled Substances, Reckless Driving and Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Evans' vehicle was impounded and towed to Cave Junction.
Posted on 10/9/23 10:55AM by Sam Marsh
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