Local News

Firefighters from multiple agencies responded to two calls of open burns that could have turned disastrous last weekend. Rural Metro Fire Department reports the first incident occurred on Sunday in the 10,000-block of Monument Drive. Rural Metro and Oregon Department of Forestry crews were originally dispatched to a grass fire that turned out to be a large burn pile that was threatening to catch the residence on fire. The end result was melting of the exterior siding of the home. No spread to the wildland occurred. The second incident also happened Sunday in the 600-block of North Frontage Road in Wolf Creek. Rural Metro, ODF and the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District responded to an open burn that escaped. Crews were able to hold the blaze to one-quarter acre of grass. Fire officials remind residents that fire season remains in effect and all outdoor debris burning remains prohibited until further notice. It was unclear in the report if any citations were issued for Sunday's incidents.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office pulled over 62 motorists for speeding violations during a special traffic enforcement campaign during September. According to a recent Facebook post, the Sheriff's Office reports deputies issued nine citations and 53 warnings for speeding on local roadways last month. Deputies also issued five citations for Driving While Suspended, three other unspecified citations and 17 other warnings. Sheriff's officials said periodic events like this allow law enforcement to educate drivers about the risks of speeding. The September 2023 Speed Enforcement Campaign was funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

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 this morning. 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. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Northwest Incident Management Team 12 assumed command of the Anvil and Flat fires on Tuesday as firefighters continued to engage in repair and clean-up work. No growth on the Anvil Fire was reported by the new team yesterday, but containment had risen to 77%. Staffing has been reduced to 561, with 14 hand crews supported by 13 engines and two helicopters. Containment was added to the perimeter along the northern finger of the Anvil Fire, which is still burning east of Port Orford. Infrared flights showed no heat along the eastern edge. This area will continue to be monitored. Crews piled brush on the northern line and will continue that work today. An excavator will begin repairing and closing dozer lines in the China Mountain area to reduce the potential for future erosion. Chipping will continue along the 5502 Road as weather permits. All Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders have been reduced to Level 2 and Level 1 notices. Meanwhile, the Flat Fire also showed no growth and remains at 34,242 acres with 93% containment. Crews worked on culvert repair with an excavator along the 3318 Road near Lawson North Trailhead and will continue that work today.

 

The Butte Falls Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will close the Upper Table Rock trailhead and trail on weekdays from October 16th through November 22nd. The trail and trailhead will be open on the weekends. BLM will be working with contractors to re-route steep and unsustainable portions of the existing Upper Table Rock Trail. Small excavators and motorized trail-building equipment will be used to complete the work. The closure will allow for public and worker safety during construction periods. The project will create a more sustainable trail that will require less maintenance in the future. Currently, steep areas along the trail wash out during large rain events, removing gravel and creating channels in the trail. These sections become muddy and create the potential for hikers to fall. The new sections will reduce the slope of the trail, providing a safer and more durable route to the top of Upper Table Rock. Until the trailhead and trails officially reopen, members of the public may not enter closed areas, and all uses -- including hiking and hunting -- are prohibited. BLM officials said there are still plenty of other exciting hiking opportunities to explore during the closure. Lower Table Rocks -- located five miles west -- will remain open.

 

Awards totaling more than $1.38 million will be distributed to 171 state arts organizations through the Oregon Arts Commission's operating support program for Fiscal Year 2024. Ranging from $3,000 to $25,000, the unrestricted awards are available to nonprofit organizations with arts at the core of their mission and budgets of over $150,000. The Oregon Arts Commission (OAC) determines awards based on number of applications and available grant funds. The largest local recipient of the OAC awards is the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Association in Ashland with $25,000 followed closely by the Peter Britt Gardens Music & Arts Festival Association in Medford. The Rogue Valley Art Association in Medford is receiving $5,316. Local organizations receiving awards of $4,128 include the Grants Pass Museum of Art; Collaborative Theatre Project, Rogue Valley Chorale Association and Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon in Medford; and Rogue World Music, Southern Oregon University Chamber Music Concerts and Southern Oregon Repertory Singers of Ashland. Anima Mundi Productions in Phoenix is getting $3,781.

 

Grants Pass Police Officers arrested two wanted suspects after a traffic stop Monday night just after 9 o’clock. Officers observed and recognized Alex Tallman riding as a passenger in a Dodge Ram pickup. Having probable cause for a stop due to an improper lane change, Officers made contact with Tallman and arrested him on outstanding warrants for hit and run/property damage and the resulting parole violation. He is lodged in the county jail. The pickup’s driver provided a fake name to police and was eventually identified as Michael Anthony Gaglione, 29, who also was wanted on active warrants. Gaglione as found to be in possession of a spring assisted knife and was a felon. He was also lodged in the county jail on the out of county hold warrant. At the jail Gaglione attempted to smuggle fentanyl into the facility, but it was detected by jail staff during a very thorough search. So Gaglione is facing additional charges of being felon in possession of a restricted weapon, giving false information to law enforcement, failure to carry and display an operator’s license and supplying contraband-drug paraphernalia.

 

Today, Northwest Team 12 assumed command of the Anvil and Flat Fires. Firefighters continued to engage in repair and clean-up work as weather permitted yesterday. No growth was reported by the new team, but containment has risen to 77%. Staffing has been reduced marginally to 561, still with 14 crews supported by 13 engines and two helicopters. Containment was added to the perimeter along the northern finger. Infrared flights showed no heat along the eastern edge. This area will continue to be monitored. Crews hand piled brush on the northern line and will continue that work today. An excavator will begin repairing and closing dozer lines in the China Mountain area to reduce the potential for future erosion. Chipping will continue along the 5502 Road as weather permits. The Flat Fire also showed no growth and remains at 34,242 acres and 93% contained.

 

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a suspect wanted for stealing multiple vehicles this month as well as eluding law enforcement. Joshua Edward McLaughlin, 33, of Shady Cove, has felony warrants for elude and theft. He is described as a white male adult, 5’9” tall, weighing 170 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. He frequents the Wimer, Shady Cove, and Butte Falls areas. There is also probable cause for his arrest on two stolen vehicles and a burglary where he attempted to steal a firearm.