Local News

Two escaped open burns scrambled firefighters in Josephine County on Thursday afternoon. At 3 p.m. yesterday, Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to a fire in the 500-block of Granite Hill Road just north of Grants Pass. Rural Metro officials said the fire was in steep, wooded terrain after a several-days-old burn pile flared up from afternoon winds. With help from a nearby Grayback Forestry crew, the fire was quickly contained at about one acre. At 3:30 p.m., Rural Metro and ODF responded to a second fire in the 5800-block of Riverbanks Road in the Shan Creek area. Crews were able contain the escaped open burn at 1/4-acre. Officials said both fires highlighted the speed at which conditions can change with just a few days of dry and warm weather. Unattended burns can easily escape with wind. Heat and embers from previous burns can appear dormant under the ash surface, but suddenly spring to life.

 

The Oregon State Police was looking for a Cave Junction man who nearly hit an elderly woman along Redwood Highway in the Illinois Valley this week. OSP reports it received a call regarding a male motorist who intentionally swerved toward and almost hit an elderly female who was walking near milepost 29 of US Highway 199 at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Troopers said the reporting party confronted the motorist who made a statement that he can run over anyone he wants and at any time. No one was hurt and the man drove away. According to OSP, a follow-up investigation revealed that the suspect vehicle -- a Chevrolet S-10 pickup with Oregon license plates -- belongs to a Cave Junction man who is believed to be the suspect motorist. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to dial *OSP.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a motorist after he crashed his vehicle into a ditch in the Colonial Valley this week. OSP reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle rollover wreck near the intersection of Highland Avenue and Donaldson Road on Wednesday afternoon. Troopers said witness and driver statements indicated the 27-year-old man was driving a Lexus RX3 north on Highland when he briefly took his eyes off the road, which caused him to go into the ditch and roll over. The driver was transported by AMR Ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of suspected minor injuries. The wrecked Lexus was towed to Grants Pass. Following an investigation, the driver was cited for No Operator's License. He was also warned for Failure to Drive Within Lane and Careless Driving.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving early yesterday after a traffic stop on Redwood Highway in southwest Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Toyota 4-Runner driven by a 24-year-old man on US Highway 199 near Willow Lane on Thursday at about 12:30 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the driver for multiple traffic violations and he showed signs of impairment. They said the man performed poorly in field sobriety tests, so he was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a positive breath sample. The suspect was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was cited and released from custody, but his vehicle was impounded.

 

A Southern Oregon man has been honored by the Travel Information Council as a 2024 Oregon Heritage Tree Award winner. Mike Oxendine of Talent is one of three "Heritage Tree Heroes of the Year" recipients in the state. The award recognizes individuals and groups who are engaging communities through education about the importance of trees and raising awareness about Oregon's history told through trees and forests. According to a press release, Oxendine was recognized for his tireless commitment in assisting heritage tree projects including the Hiroshima Peace Tree plantings and assessing heritage tree health. The Oregon Heritage Tree Program is the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the United States. It was established in 1995 to increase public awareness of the important contribution of trees to Oregon's history and the significant role they play in the quality of our daily life.

 

The Bureau of Land Management has released a draft update to the management plan for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The Monument -- which sits at the intersection of the Cascade, Klamath and Siskiyou mountain ranges in Southern Oregon and Northern California -- is the first US monument set aside primarily for the preservation of biodiversity. Originally established by Presidential Proclamation in 2000, Cascade-Siskiyou was expanded in 2017. It is managed under the BLM's National Conservation Lands. The BLM's draft plan will allow the agency to consolidate management, currently addressed under three separate management plans, providing consistency for the BLM and the public. The draft plan updates management of the entire monument to protect important biological, historical and public resources including objects of scientific interest, while addressing important resource issues such as fire and fuels, wildlife, livestock grazing and recreation. A Notice of Availability for the draft resource management plan update published recently in the Federal Register, kicking off a 90-day public comment period for the draft plan and associated draft environmental impact statement.

 

As the May 21st election draws near, campaigns and their friends should remember that the Oregon Department of Transportation will remove political signs posted on state highway right-of-ways. Every election season, ODOT receives complaints from the public and from candidates regarding the improper placement of political signs on state right-of-ways, where only official traffic control devices are allowed. Officials say improperly placed signs can distract drivers and block road safety messages. Wrongly placed signs will be taken down and held at a nearby ODOT district maintenance office for 30 days. If not picked up, they will be disposed of. Signs are prohibited on trees, utility poles, fence posts and natural features within highway right-of-ways. They are also prohibited within view of a designated scenic area. The width of the state highway right-of-ways can vary considerably depending on the specific location. If you're uncertain whether you're placing a sign on private property or a highway right-of-way, check with your local ODOT district office.

 

Grants Pass residents are encouraged to attend the city's Arbor Day Celebration early next week. The Grants Pass Arbor Day Celebration starts at 10 a.m. Monday at Garrison Field, which is located at 2482 Williams Highway behind Deano's Diner. City officials will be planting a tree at Garrison Field during the event. City staff will also be planting a total of 30 trees in the Historic Downtown District as part of the statewide celebration of Arbor Month. The City of Grants Pass has announced that the 2024 Tree Canopy Program is now open for applications. For $50, city staff will plant a tree in your front yard. Please apply by November 1st to be eligible for the fall and winter planting season. Trees are limited and available -- pending application approval -- on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, e-mail "tree@grantspassoregon.gov."

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on a statewide felony warrant last night after a routine patrol check near the Parkway in the southeast part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 32-year-old male subject near the corner of East Park Street and Parkdale Drive on Wednesday at 8:05 p.m.. Police said they were on patrol when they spotted the man walking down Parkdale and knew that he was wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for Felony Parole Violation. The underlying conviction was not disclosed. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show the man has been arrested three times for violating his post-prison supervision since August of last year.