Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of an abandoned vehicle fire that occurred last weekend in a mountainous area west of Merlin. On Sunday at 3:30 p.m., deputies and Rural Metro Fire Department responded to the reported vehicle fire about 1.5 miles up Hog Creek Road from Galice Road. Rural Metro officials said a passerby came upon the blaze and called it in right away, mobilizing Engine 7505 from the company's Merlin Station. The fire -- which consumed most of the vehicle's interior -- was considered suspicious. After fully extinguishing the blaze, Rural Metro turned the scene over to the Sheriff's Office. There was no spread to the surrounding wildland. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call (541)-474-5123.

 

The 2023 application window is still open for Community Wildfire Defense Grants. They will be accepted through October 31st. Community Wildfire Defense Grants help at-risk communities plan for and reduce the risk of wildfire by awarding grants for creating and updating Community Wildfire Protection Plans and implementing community-based projects that reduce wildfire risk and improve community resiliency in response to wildfires. This program is authorized and funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The initial round funded 100 projects for $197 million in 2022. Local governments representing communities located in an area with a risk of wildfires -- including homeowners associations that assist such communities -- and state forestry agencies are eligible for the program. Applicants must be registered in "SAM.gov." Registration is free with no-cost assistance. Communities recently impacted by a severe disaster, with lower-than-average incomes that are in a high-risk area may receive priority consideration. Grants must be used to fund work that reduces the risk of wildfire to people and property. For more details on this program, visit "fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants."

 

With a little help from Mother Nature, firefighters met the established deadlines for accomplishing all work on the region's remaining wildfires last weekend. In its final report, Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 12 said the Anvil Fire about eight miles east of Port Orford was holding at 22,170 acres with containment at 80%. The majority of the remaining fire resources have been demobilized and only a few pieces of equipment remained in place to carry out the last cleanup tasks including pulling down ribbon and signage around the fire area. Crews have dismantled the rest of the fire camp and the Incident Command Post. All work was completed on the Flat Fire over the weekend and the remaining resources have also been demobilized. Northwest Team 12 has transitioned both the Anvil and Flat fires back to the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The team would like to thank the local communities for their hospitality and support. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest lifted all public use restrictions on its lands last week. The fire danger rating and industrial fire precaution levels were removed from all five local ranger districts.

 

The City of Butte Falls and the Bureau of Land Management invite the public to attend an open house meeting this week to learn about and comment on two related projects: the Butte Falls Community Forest Recreation Plan and the BLM's Fredenburg Butte Trails Project. The open house will take place on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Butte Falls Community Hall, 555 East Main Street. Butte Falls officials will explain and seek input on the recreation development plan for its recently acquired community forest. Following acquisition of the land in 2022, the town began developing its forest recreation plan with the support of the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program. The town held a public workshop in May to solidify an initial plan. Now Butte Falls and the Community Forest Commission are seeking input from residents and the larger community on the draft plan. To complement Butte Falls' plans for its community forest, the BLM is proposing a new non-motorized trail system in the Fredenburg Butte area north of town.

 

The Josephine County Fairgrounds will be hosting the 4th Annual "Trunk or Treat" this coming weekend. Trunk or Treat is set for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Fairgrounds' indoor covered arena. It's being presented by the Fairgrounds and Grants Pass Toyota. Join them for a spooktacular time to help celebrate this year's Halloween season. Bring the whole family to enjoy a day of trick-or-treating from trunk to trunk, with over 30 different trunks filled with candy, decorations and plenty of photo opportunities. When you arrive on Saturday, enter through the main gates, park in the parking lot and then go to the west arena entrance that faces the horse racing track. Be sure to arrive early as you don't want to miss out on all the sweet treats. For more information, e-mail "fairgrounds@josephinecounty.gov" or call the main office at (541)-476-3215.

 

The Oregon State Police assisted the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with the weekend pursuit of a motorcyclist who crashed at the Interstate 5 Interchange near Merlin. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies tried to pull over a Honda motorcycle ridden by 44-year-old Lance Taylor Huggins of Grants Pass near the intersection of Merlin Road and Ort Lane on Saturday at about 10:40 p.m.. Deputies said Huggins failed to yield, leading them and state troopers on a pursuit toward I-5 where he ran out of gas at the intersection of Merlin Road and Highland Avenue. They said the suspect bailed off the bike, ran away and hid in some nearby bushes. He was eventually placed into custody at the point of a Taser. According to the report, Huggins had a hatchet in a sheath on his belt which was seized. Huggins was found to be wanted on two Josephine County warrants for failing to appear in court for 4th-Degree Assault, Felony and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Criminal Mischief and Interfering with Making a Police Report. Lance Huggins was transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail on the warrants along with new charges of Felony and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police, and Reckless Driving. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon on a weapons charge as well as an out-of-state fugitive warrant following an incident at the Josephine County Courthouse. The Police Department reports a woman came to the door of the Courthouse in downtown Grants Pass on Saturday at 11:37 a.m. to report that she was trying to get away from a man she identified as 49-year-old John Dee Wilkins. Police said a Courthouse employee let the woman in and helped her contact GPPD. They said she reported that Wilkins was her estranged boyfriend, he was armed with a gun and he had a warrant out of California for his arrest. Officers contacted Wilkins a short time later in a high-risk traffic stop on NE 7th Street in front of the old Millie's Sandwich Shop. He reportedly admitted that he was in possession of a gun and he is a convicted felon, so he was placed into custody. The Italian 25 automatic pistol was seized as evidence. John Wilkins was found to be wanted on a Placer County, California, warrant for unspecified crimes. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and the outstanding warrant. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for getting into verbal and physical altercations with several people at a popular Mexican restaurant near the Parkway. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a reported disturbance at Si Casa Flores in the 200-block of NE Beacon Drive on Saturday at 7:35 p.m.. Police said 45-year-old William Earl Hill engaged in tumultuous behavior by getting into verbal altercations with restaurant patrons, asking them to step outside. One verbal argument escalated into a physical altercation where Hill punched a man in the face, causing pain and injury. He also reportedly hit a woman. Officers said they reviewed video footage of the incident that showed Hill to be the aggressor. They said it appeared that he was highly intoxicated at the time. William Hill tried to get away in a sport utility vehicle, but he was stopped by police a short distance away from the restaurant. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 4th-Degree Assault and Disorderly Conduct. He was also trespassed from Si Casa Flores.

 

The Oregon State Police was looking for an Idaho man who allegedly assaulted another man at a convenience store in Murphy before fleeing the scene. OSP reports troopers responded to the incident at Pinnacle 365 at the corner of Williams Highway and New Hope Road on Saturday at about 12:45 a.m.. Troopers said they were dispatched for two men fighting inside the store. They contacted the victim who had minor injuries and wished to press charges against 38-year-old Jason Allen Eldred of Spirit Lake, Idaho. The suspect had fled the scene prior to the arrival of OSP, but he was identified by the victim. According to the report, Eldred also spoke with the victim's girlfriend, which was a violation of a no-contact order. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jason Eldred is encouraged to dial *OSP.