Local News

Rogue Community College and the RCC Foundation have named Zackary Salem-Bango, a 2015 RCC graduate, the 2025 Alum of the Year.

Salem-Bango, a former Peace Corps volunteer now working as a medical intern in Seattle, was selected for his professional accomplishments and dedication to service, mentorship and the community where his journey began.

He will be formally recognized at the President’s Circle dinner on Sept. 25, an annual celebration hosted by the RCC Foundation to honor donors and highlight the life-changing impact of education.

A native of Applegate, Salem-Bango began his higher education journey at RCC, where he earned an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree in pre-medicine, first enrolling at age 13. After RCC, he pursued a degree in biochemistry at Oregon State University, then went on to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

His experiences span the globe, from service in the Peace Corps in Botswana to malaria research in The Gambia, where his development of a multiplex qPCR system for rapid fungal diagnosis is still in use today. Currently, he is a postgraduate intern in emergency medicine at the University of Washington, training at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Despite his busy career, Salem-Bango remains connected to RCC. He has mentored transfer students through the college’s TRIO Student Support Services program, offering encouragement and guidance to those interested in medicine.

 

Applications are now being accepted for a position on the Historical Buildings and Sites Commission due to a vacancy. This is a four-year position.

The committee’s purpose is to review proposed alterations to any Historic District or designated structure in the Urban Growth Boundary; to promote historic preservation, advise other interested agencies on matters related to historic preservation, and identify areas and buildings of historic and archeological significance.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. This position is for a representative who is the owner of a business located within the Central Business District of the City of Grants Pass.

Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or online at grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. Friday, November 7.

Applications will be reviewed by the commission November 13. Applicants will be interviewed at the Council Workshop December 1. Appointments will be made at the City Council meeting December 3.

 

Resources assigned to the Kelsey Peak Fire continued to push forward on lining the perimeter Tuesday. Cooler temperatures and intermittent rain helped to decrease fire behavior, providing opportunities for firefighters to make fast progress in areas that once proved difficult in hotter weather and more active fire. It’s also allowing firefighters to put in direct line up against the fire’s edge, keeping the fire as small as possible and minimizing further growth. Due to the current conditions, the Curry County Sheriff's Office has decreased the Level 3 – Go Now evacuation for the Rogue River Ranch, Tucker Flat Campground and the nearby area of Marial to a Level 2 – Be Set notice. The Level 1 – Be Ready evacuation for Zone JCU-801 in Josephine County to the southeast of the fire remains in place.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners were all in agreement during their workshop session yesterday. During the workshop, Commissioner Barnett made a motion to move forward with the OSU Extension agreement which passed 3-0. Commissioner Blech said he hadn't heard back from Legal Council on how to proceed with the Library, so Commissioner Barnett's second attempt at a motion to approve the August 21st Library Lease was postponed. The Board unanimously approved the Forestry department's contract for planting seedlings for the next two years, hoping for a 75% survival rate. There were no objections for Josephine Community Transit to continue with their signed contract with Concierge Security to provide extra surveillance of their building after hours.

 

Grants Pass Police Officers contacted two suspects in a tent yesterday.

One of the suspects was identified by her name, date of birth, and photograph on record. She was found to be in possession of a meth pipe near her bed.

A subsequent search showed she had packaging materials, preloaded syringes, foil, and scales. She was taken into custody on her warrant and charged with Parole Violation, Possession of Meth, and Manufacturing/Distributing Fentanyl.

The other suspect in the tent admitted to possessing the same meth pipe. He was taken into custody on a Parole Violation and Possession of Meth. Both were lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 99, near milepost 12, in Jackson County yesterday. On Monday at 2:18 p.m., a southbound Subaru Legacy, driven by Cody Austin Jenkins, 26, of Gold Hill, veered across the northbound lanes, broke through a fence, and entered the Rogue River. The vehicle was quickly submerged. No occupants were observed escaping. The Jackson County Search and Rescue Team responded and assisted with removing the vehicle from the river. Jenkins was declared deceased at the scene. There was no one else in the vehicle. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to calls of a man holding two people hostage in a trailer on their property yesterday. On Monday afternoon, officers learned the suspect had been damaging a home on the same property before entering the trailer, carrying a buck knife, and preventing two people from leaving. It was also reported he had been drinking and hadn't been taking his medication. Upon arrival, officers arrested the man for First and Second Degree Kidnapping, two counts of Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Harassment, and Resisting Arrest. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department arrested a man in possession of a stolen U-Haul truck yesterday.

The truck had been stolen out of Bakersfield, California. Officers learned it was due back September 1st and wasn't authorized to leave the state.

Officers contacted the suspect, but he provided a false name, knowing he had a warrant out of California.

He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Providing False Information to Police. His passenger was able to unload the truck before it was towed to the local U-Haul yard.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry has announced the fire danger level will decrease to "high" in Josephine and Jackson Counties.

Due to cooler temperatures and light rain overnight and in the forecast, the fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District will decrease to “high” Wednesday, September 10, at 12:01 a.m.

The difference between current fire prevention restrictions and those beginning on Wednesday affects the public use of power-driven equipment, such as chainsaws, mowers, weed eaters, and more.

The use of power-driven equipment, grinding, cutting of metal, and other spark-emitting equipment, such as wood splitters and generators, will now be allowed until 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. daily. Mowing green lawns are allowed at any time.