Local News

This morning, around 7 a.m., a mass casualty training exercise will be taking place near Grandview Avenue and Ringuette Street in Grants Pass. Several emergency response personnel and vehicles from fire, law enforcement, and ambulance services, possibly even a helicopter, will be in the area for several hours. Ringuette Street will be closed between Grandview Avenue and Southgate Cinemas. If possible, please avoid this area to help prevent congestion.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff’s office continues to search for a presumed drowning victim from September 28th . according to a Sheriff’s office press release Thursday afternoon. That day, the Sheriff’s Office was notified of a drowning that occurred at Wild Cat Rapids in the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River. Information provided indicated a group of 11 people, with 5 rafts, were navigating the Wild and Scenic section of the river when one of the rafts got stuck in the middle of Wild Cat Rapids approximately 5 miles below Grave Creek Boat Ramp. While trying to free the raft, the victim slipped on a rock and fell into the water. Due to the swift and dangerous water, the victim was immediately pushed into a large “strainer” made by two large rocks. David Bartecchi, a 46-year-old male from Colorado, was pinned to the side of the rock under water. Several people in the group attempted to pull him out, however, due to the pressure of the water they were unable to. Rescue crews from the Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue, and Bureau of Land Management responded to the incident. During the recovery, the river was shut down due to several rope systems being set up across the river. Rescue teams utilized long poles and rope systems in the attempt to recover Bartecchi, however, the swift water pulled him under the rock and down river.

 

Progress on the Anvil Fire was limited because of windy conditions limiting helicopter capabilities to transport crews on Wednesday. The fire size does remain at 22,170 acres according to latest report from the Forest Service. Total personnel assigned to the fire is now 962 including 29 crews, 7 helicopters and 30 engines. Containment remains at 54 %. Firefighters were unable to access the uncontained section of the western edge of line but progress was made on the lower half of this section. Crews are removing pumps and hose around homes on Elk River Road and staging this equipment as a precaution for residents. Suppression repair continues to take place around the fire. Chipping operations continue along Sixes River Road. Plans to create more separation between the east edge and values at risk are being developed. Chipping work on the southern half of the fire will switch to the south side of the road and begin working back to the west. The eastern edge of the fire is being monitored and benefited from the rain and cooler temperatures early in the week. The Flat Fire remains stable with its 34,242 acres 93% contained. One crew with three engines equaling a total of 51 personnel are tending the fire.

 

Tomorrow morning, around 7 a.m., a mass casualty training exercise will be taking place near Grandview Avenue and Ringuette Street in Grants Pass. Several emergency response personnel and vehicles from fire, law enforcement, and ambulance services, possibly even a helicopter, will be in the area for several hours. Ringuette Street will be closed between Grandview Avenue and Southgate Cinemas. If possible, please avoid this area to help prevent congestion.

 

Grants Pass Fire Rescue crews responded to two separate water rescue incidents Wednesday about one hour apart. Both rescues utilized an inflatable rescue boat referred to as an IRB. In the first rescue, a boater fell from their kayak near Chinook Park at about 10:45 a.m. and was unable to get back in. The boater was wearing a life jacket, but the current was too strong to swim to shore. The person was stuck in the middle of the river and was quickly being affected by the colder water temperatures. Grants Pass Fire Rescue crews worked with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Rural Metro Fire, and American Medical Response to rescue the boater. The boater was uninjured and transported to shore by trained swift water rescue personnel utilizing the IRB. In the second rescue at about 11:45 a.m, an individual along with a civilian attempting rescue ended up under Deb Potts bridge in the water clinging to the water intake structure, both without life jackets. Both individuals were in the water for at least 15 minutes prior to 911 notification. Grants Pass Fire Rescue crews again worked with the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, Rural Metro Fire, American Medical Response, and Grants Pass Police to quickly launch the boat and retrieve the individual from the river. One person was then transported to Three Rivers Hospital for further care while the other refused care.

 

Grants Pass City Police were dispatched to a three-vehicle accident at 9:19 Wednesday morning at the intersection of the Parkway and Agness. According to the police report, a Nissan Rogue with Florida license plates was going east on the Parkway and Agness in the north bound turn lane, ran a red light and turned through the intersection and crashed into a grey Honda Accord. The Nissan then collided with a third vehicle staged at the red light. The crash blocked Agness for a short time with one of the vehicles on its top. The driver of the Nissan, identified only as a Mitchell, admitting going through the red light and was cited for driving while suspended, failure to obey a traffic control device and careless drivin

 

The Oregon State Police lodged three individuals in jail in three separate incidents beginning at 7:58 a.m. Wednesday morning. A trooper stopped a blue Nissan Sentra for speeding on Interstate-5 near milepost 62 and found the driver, 39-year-old Christopher William Turley, was driving suspended. He was also cited for speed, driving uninsured, failure to register the vehicle and warned for expired tags. He was lodged in jail and the Nissan was towed. At 7:30 Wednesday night a trooper was dispatched to milepost 77 on Interstate-5 to the report of a disorderly man. The Trooper contacted 32-year-old Timothy Jordan Brenden of Glendale, who showed obvious signs of intoxication. Brenden initially refused to identity himself, so he was arrested and transported to the Josephine County Jail. He was then identified and found to have a warrant for his arrest for disorderly conduct and failure to appear on a bench warrant.

 

Two motorcycle riders were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after both collided with a sedan on Highway 199 and Round Prairie Road. The Oregon State Police responded to the 3-vheicle crash in which, for unknown reasons, two motorcycle riders hit a blue Hyundai Elantra that was waiting to turn onto Round Prairie Road. Both riders received moderate injuries with one being transported to Three Rivers Medical Center and one being taken to the Rogue Regional Medical Center. 59-year-old Michelle Louise Larson of Gold Hill was riding a blue Harley Davidson. Lisa Lear Buckman, also 59, was riding a purple and mauve Harley Davidson. The driver of the Hyundai, 37-year-year old Tayle Marie Grace Williams, was not injured.

 

One man was arrested, and a woman cited to appear following a traffic stop by a Josephine County deputy at 5:28 p.m. Wednesday. The deputy observed the driver of a vehicle known to be driving suspended operating a white 4-door vehicle and stopped the vehicle, detaining both the driver and passenger. The driver, identified as Ryan Scott Crisel, 28, and passenger, 27-year-old Shelby Mckenzie Spliethof, both admitted to being part of a current burglary case. Crisel was arrested and lodged in the county jail on charges of a parole violation, burglary I at a residence, theft II and driving while suspended. He is being held on a no bail detainer.