Local News

With the assistance of numerous local emergency agencies, Asante Three Rivers Medical Center staged a mass casualty training event late last week. On Friday morning, the training occurred in the area of Grandview Avenue and Ringuette Street. Participating agencies included Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response, Grants Pass Police, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Fire District #1, Illinois Valley Fire District, Applegate Valley Fire District, Mercy Flights, Reach Air Medical Services and Cal-Ore Life Flight. Approximately three-dozen first responders were involved in the exercise as participants or observers. Two of the observers became mock victims themselves after being contaminated by a simulated explosion at an organo-phosphate farm. Approximately two-dozen Grants Pass High School students volunteered to play the roles of victims with a wide variety of injuries, five of which were deemed "fatal." The students -- doused in fake blood and sporting phony shrapnel injuries -- yelled and screamed as if they had been badly wounded, adding to the effect of the simulation.

 

This week has been designated "National School Lunch Week" by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA). ODE and OSBA are teaming up to raise awareness of the importance of Child Nutrition Programs in Oregon schools. Around the state, school board members will eat with students during the week to learn about the healthy and tasty options, and to experience the social benefits of school lunches. In 2022-23, over 39 million school lunches were served to Oregon students. The Oregon Legislature has endorsed the value of school meals including funding in the Student Success Act this biennium for expanded school nutrition programs. ODE Director of Child Nutrition Dustin Melton said National School Lunch Week is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the great meals offered in Oregon schools. He said it also celebrates the child nutrition staff in every school that ensures healthy meals are provided to Oregon's kids each school day.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff’s office is reminding the general public that as the general hunting season begins this weekend, they are asking for help in spreading the word on a missing person, Graham Case.
JCSO detectives and Search & Rescue are looking for any information on the whereabouts of Graham Case, missing since June 22. He was last seen driving a white 2014 Mercedes SUV, license plate number WC26068.Graham Rhode Case, 47, was last seen leaving his Medford residence June 22nd. He is described as a white male, 6’3” tall, weighing 230 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes.

 

The Grants Pass City Police answered 662 calls for service last week while making 335 officer-initiated contacts. That activity resulted in 43 arrests, 22 citations being issued, and 48 warnings being handed out. 57 traffic stops were conducted, and 2 individuals were lodged in the sobering center. The community response team made 136 contacts and posted 112 homeless camps. 79 warnings were issued along with 31 citations and 5 arrests were executed. Fire/Rescue responded to one fire and 49 medical assists, 15 lift assists and 18 other public assists. Units participated in 11 rescues and assisted other agencies six times. The division also answered six false alarms. 20 businesses were inspected.

 

Friday morning Asante staged a Mass Casualty Training in the area of Grandview Avenue and Ringuette St, with the assistance of numerous local emergency responder agencies. Approximately three dozen first responders participated in the exercise as participants or observers, two of whom later became mock victims themselves after being contaminated. The drill simulated an explosion at a farm with organo-phosphates. Approximately two dozen students from Grants Pass High School volunteered to play the roles of victims with a variety of injuries, five of which were deemed “fatal.” The students, doused in fake blood and sporting phony shrapnel injuries, yelled and screamed as if they had been mortally wounded, adding to the effect of the simulation. Personnel from Asante and the high school were on scene to assist and observe the first responders and students. Grants Pass Fire and Rescue is preparing for another drill early next year.

 

Climate City Grants Pass lived up to its name as the weather was perfect for the kickoff of Art Along the Rogue Friday evening and the crowd enjoyed the event’s opening. More than 40 artists are drawing on the streets at 5th and H in the Historic District of downtown Grants Pass. Featured artists Evar Galvez and Sharyn Chan will be creating their works in 3-D. today’s schedule has a 9 a.m. start going all the way to 9 p.m. for a full day of art and music Art Along the Rogue is one of the leading street chalk and music festivals in the state and it attracts thousands of visitors to Grants Pass each autumn. Since its inception in 2003, Art Along the Rogue has grown into one of Grants Pass' premier community events. This year, more than 20 community sponsors are supporting the artists and festival like never before.
Today and Sunday, children can create art free of charge using one of the 1,200 squares available. The 24-square-inch spaces will be marked off by Project Youth Plus on Saturday morning. There will be 450 gift bags of chalk and supplies available for the young artists.

 

Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives served a search warrant at neighboring black-market cannabis grows Friday. These properties were both located in the 2000 block of Rogue River Highway in rural Gold Hill. While serving the warrant, detectives discovered a clandestine Butane Honey Oil (BHO) laboratory. Jackson County Code Enforcement issued a citation totaling $887,710 for the unauthorized hydrocarbon extraction facility including the use of butane gas, and failure to obtain land use approval for marijuana production. IMET served the search warrant after receiving tips that the irrigation canal water in the local area was drying up. Overall, investigators seized 1,221 illegal marijuana plants, 1,851 lbs. of processed cannabis, 12 BHO jars, and $17,900 cash. Four suspects were on the property when the warrant was served and charges will be filed with the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. Oregon Water Resources Department District 13 Watermasters will issue three separate Notices of Violation to the responsible party for three separate well locations. Despite being a paying patron of the Gold Hill Irrigation District and with the canal running through the properties, it was observed that both grow operations were not diverting water from the irrigation district source water during the time of the Watermaster's investigation.
According to Oregon Water Law it is unpermitted to use domestic well water for a commercial grow operation or to water beyond 1/2 acre. Water violations of this kind are subject to both civil and criminal penalties. The Watermaster's office received several anonymous calls in early September about the tenants on the properties taking more water from the canal than allowed, drying up the allotted source.

 

A fugitive is being lodged in the Josephine County Jail on murder charges with local charges pending from his association with a black-market cannabis grow. October 4th Oregon State Police detectives assisted the Connecticut State Police with locating and apprehending a murder suspect in Josephine County. Christopher Suarez (31) was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a nationwide warrant for murder related to a Connecticut shooting that occurred in February of 2023. During the investigation, it was determined Suarez was associated with an illegal marijuana grow in the Merlin area. A search warrant was served on the illegal marijuana grow with assistance from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Josephine County District Attorney’s Office. During the execution of the search warrant, four greenhouses and 796 marijuana plants were located and destroyed. Additionally, six grams of cocaine, three packages of methamphetamine, and unidentified orange pills were located and seized.

 

Crews were able to complete a challenging section of handline on the western edge of the Anvil fire yesterday with the fire remaining within its footprint. No growth has been reported so the fire remains at 22,170 acres with containment still listed at 54%. Personnel staffing has been reduced to 847 with 20 crews on hand backed by 22 engines and six helicopters. Chipping on that western edge was also completed and equipment will turn the corner to work further south today. Engines are working on the northern half of the fire doing suppression repair on Forest Service Roads. On the northeastern tip of the fire, crews put in direct handline and are assessing other points where indirect line will benefit suppression efforts on the ridgetop. Along the southern edge of the fire, crews and equipment continue to repair suppression lines. The chipper in this area is moving south, down the dozer line towards Forest Road 5502. Chipping on the south side of the 5502 is ongoing, working back to the west. Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones) flew the northeast line of the fire, looking for heat and gaining information in the deep, thick drainages. These flights will continue today and help ground crews make plans for the coming days. The Flat Fire is also showing no growth beyond the 34,242 acres and containment remains at 93%. One crew backed by three engines remain, a total of 51 people