Local News

Community members from a variety of backgrounds gathered last month for the 31st annual Southern Oregon University Powwow in Ashland. The SOU Powwow is widely regarded as the largest student-led event on campus. The event -- hosted by the school's Native American Student Union (NASU) -- drew in thousands of visitors to Lithia Motors Pavilion in its second year back on campus after a COVID-19-related hiatus. This year, NASU welcomed more than 10 tribal royalty participants, the largest number of royalty ever in attendance. To become tribal royalty, an individuals is judged at a powwow on aspects like performance, participation and public speaking skills. Once a royalty participant is crowned, they are expected to represent their tribe or tribes by attending public events and stepping into the role of cultural ambassador.

 

New information released this week shows the number of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in Oregon at its lowest point since June 2020, dropping about 34% in April. Additionally, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital intensive care units is at its lowest point since April 2020. Oregon Health Authority data shows 82 adults were hospitalized with COVID-19 on April 30th, six of whom were in the ICU. Test percentage positivity was also at its lowest point (2.4%) since June 2020. OHA officials said COVID-19 is still out there and they expect case numbers to rise again, likely this fall and winter. However, overall community transmission is currently low. Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for OHA's communicable diseases and immunizations, said COVID-19 is still with us and will always be with us. But he thinks there is substantial immunity to a number of variants within our population, and many of us have been vaccinated repeatedly with different variations of the virus. The virus is also far less likely to cause death than it once was. OHA recommends everyone be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination. That includes people ages 65 and over getting a second dose of the 2023-24 vaccine.

 

The US Forest Service has announced it is issuing more than $232 million through the agency's Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program in 2024. SRS includes nearly $63 million in investments to support public schools and roads in the Pacific Northwest Region that encompasses the states of Oregon and Washington. Pacific Northwest Regional Forester Jacqueline Buchanan said the region is home to some of the most iconic national forests in the country and the SRS program ensures these public lands continue to benefit surrounding communities. Oregon will receive more than $47.7 million in SRS payments, which is the highest amount among all states. In southwest Oregon, Douglas County will receive about $6.67 million while Jackson County will receive more than $1.46 million and Josephine County will get over $950,000. These funds will provide critical support for schools, roads and other essential services in rural communities across the Pacific Northwest that are home to national forests. Over the past 10 years, the Forest Service has distributed $2.4 billion through the Secure Rural School program nationwide.

 

If you've ever wondered where steelhead go in the ocean after they've spawned in rivers, you're not alone. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists want to know, too. ODFW biologists in Southern Oregon are putting satellite "pop-off" tags on 10 adult winter steelhead in the Rogue and Chetco rivers this spring. The goal is to tag "kelts" -- the fish that have successfully spawned and are heading back to sea. Unlike Pacific salmon, steelhead can spawn multiple times and have a much broader ocean distribution. Steelhead are rarely encountered in commercial fisheries like salmon are, so much less is known about their distribution, migration routes, depth at sea and more. The multi-year research project will provide much information and add to biological knowledge of Rogue-South Coast winter steelhead. It is also the first winter steelhead satellite tagging of kelts in Oregon.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a patient for extremely rude behavior toward a nurse at Three Rivers Medical Center early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the disturbance at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue on Thursday around 6:15 a.m.. Police said the 32-year-old male subject subjected an emergency room nurse to offensive physical conduct by spitting on him while he was attempting to provide care. The nurse wanted to press charges, so the patient was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment and he was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested three people who were illegally camping on public land this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted the trio on Wednesday during a patrol check at a large transient camp on BLM Road 38-7-21. The transient camp was described as a complete mess, with trash and other items scattered around. Deputies said two of the subjects -- a 55-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman -- were charged with Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and Offensive Littering. They were lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. The other subject -- a 55-year-old man -- was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. He was cited and released due to an unspecified medical condition. According to the report, the BLM property has been the location of several camps in recent years. A few months ago, parts to a stolen airplane were found there.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorcyclist for impaired riding after a traffic stop west of Grants Pass earlier this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies eventually pulled over the 34-year-old man on Redwood Avenue near Robinson Road on Wednesday night. Deputies said they pursued the motorcycle after clocking it at 84 miles per hour and the rider subsequently displayed signs of impairment. They said the man performed poorly in field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. Based on the results of the blood draw, the suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His motorcycle was impounded.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving late last night after a Redwood Highway traffic stop in Selma. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by a 49-year-old man on US Highway 199 near Illinois River Road on Thursday around 11:40 p.m.. Deputies said they stopped the vehicle for traffic violations and the driver showed signs of impairment. He was placed into custody after performing poorly in field sobriety tests. The male subject was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. He was lodged on charges of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle was impounded and hauled to Cave Junction by Jerry's Towing.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a truck driver for losing control of his semi and wrecking on Interstate 5 in Sunny Valley yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the commercial vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 71 on Thursday at 2:47 p.m.. Troopers said when they arrived on scene, the semi driven by a 45-year-old man was a few miles away from where he crashed into a guardrail. The driver -- who was not hurt -- stated that he was attempting to get out of the way of another vehicle when it caused him to collide with the guardrail. Following the investigation, the truck driver was cited for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. The Oregon Department of Transportation was called in to assess the damage for which the trucking company will be billed.