Local News

The Oregon State Fire Marshal's commitment to wildfire resilience is yielding significant successes from wildfire risk reduction grants and investments in local communities. This innovative funding approach allows communities across the state to develop local solutions to reduce wildfire impact. It was made possible by Senate Bill 762. Among the triumphs are 22 strategic investments totaling more than $2.6 million and 106 Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant projects amounting to $18 million. These funds were used to empower communities, fostering a collaborative spirit in the face of increasing wildfire risks. The City of Jacksonville undertook a significant project in Forest Park, leveraging investment funds from the OSFM. The city created substantial fuel breaks by thinning dense brushlands, pruning trees and removing debris, safeguarding public spaces. This one-time funding is part of a multi-pronged approach to the OSFM's efforts in rising to the challenge of wildfire.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved new fee schedules for the Animal Shelter and Recreation Department during its weekly business session this morning. The Board voted 2-0 to approve the fee changes following a public hearing. Commissioner Dan DeYoung was absent. Finance Director Sandy Novak testified that the fee adjustments were made so users will pay for most services from Josephine County instead of the bills being footed by taxpayers. The Animal Shelter fee schedule will increase slightly for adoptions while the Parks Department will increase fees for some campground services, and various plot sales for Granite Hill Cemetery will start in March. Josephine County Public Health Director Mike Weber made a presentation on the Animal Shelter by stating it is hampered by aging infrastructure, a lack of funding and inadequate staffing. In a comparison with 15 similar facilities, the local shelter had the 3rd-highest number of animal intakes and the 3rd-lowest level of funding with the lowest ratio of staff per animal. Weber testified that the current shelter across from the Grants Pass Airport has the same number of kennels as it had in 1978 while the number of animal intakes has increased dramatically. He said the septic and drainage systems are outdated and the concrete walls are cracking and crumbling, adding that a rehabilitated facility is desperately needed. Weber unveiled a proposed Animal Shelter Levy to upgrade the facility and services. The total cost would be 47 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value including 27.6 cents for operations and 19.4 cents for the facility. The operations portion of the levy would continue for five years while the facility portion would cease after an Oregon Business Loan is paid off. As part of the Consent Calendar, Karl Haeckler was appointed to a three-year term on the Josephine County Fair Board and Chip Dennerlein was reappointed to a four-year term on the Bikeways & Walkways Committee.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple felony-level crimes last night after a fight between at least two male transients broke out in the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 35-year-old Anthony John Gambale, IV, for the incident in the 400-block of SE 7th Street on Tuesday at about 7:20 p.m.. Police said Gambale intentionally caused physical injury to another man by punching him several times in the head. They said he was aided by another male subject who has yet to be identified. The victim had pain and swelling, but denied medical attention or transport to the hospital. During the altercation, Gambale took the victim's backpack which he claimed contained over $3,000 in personal items. The suspect was located several blocks away, but he did not have possession of the backpack and refused to speak about it. He is a convicted felon and was found to be in possession of some weapons. Anthony Gambale was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 3rd-Degree Assault, Felony 3rd-Degree Robbery, Felony 1st-Degree Theft and two counts of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for choking his wife in front of their infant child at a residence in the southeast part of the city last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 1100-block of Fruitdale Drive on Tuesday shortly after 9 p.m.. Police were requested to conduct a welfare check on a 23-year-old woman and her infant daughter by a friend who had been unable to reach the woman by phone. The caller advised the woman was having some marital issues with her husband whom she identified as 34-year-old Jose Alberto Perez-Cardenas. Upon arrival, officers said the woman came to the door visibly upset and crying. She reported that Perez-Cardenas grabbed her around the throat beneath her jaw line and cut off her breathing for about five seconds. The victim stated she was in fear of serious physical injury to her and her child. Officers contacted Perez-Cardenas who showed signs of impairment and refused to give a statement about the incident. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail without bail for Felony Domestic Strangulation and Physical Harassment.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for roughing up a woman in the Wolf Creek area last night. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 900-block of Old Highway 99 on Tuesday at about 6:50 p.m.. Deputies said a crying female victim called 9-1-1 to report she had been choked by 33-year-old Erik Andrew Baca. They said a dispatcher advised them the woman was having trouble breathing and speaking over the phone. The victim was still gasping and coughing when she told the call-taker that the suspect pushed her down on a bed, got on top of her and choked her. She said three children were present and witnessed the incident. Responding deputies arrived on scene, interviewed the victim and her oldest child, and then placed Baca into custody. The victim had visible scratches and bruising, but she refused medical transport to the hospital. Erik Baca was arrested, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Domestic Strangulation. He was being held without bail.

 

A Grants Pass motorist is facing numerous charges after he crashed into the back of another vehicle on Redwood Highway last night. Grants Pass Police and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision on US Highway 199 at Ringuette Street on Tuesday at 7:40 p.m.. Police said 31-year-old Nicholas Thomas Ryder was both impaired and suspended while driving his truck with his two juvenile children inside. They said he crashed into the back of a vehicle that was lawfully stopped at a red light at the intersection. Fortunately, no one in either vehicle was hurt. Upon contact with officers, Ryder displayed numerous indicators of impairment including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol. His truck was disabled in the center of the highway and his children were escorted to safety at the nearby Dairy Queen. Ryder refused to participate in sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that revealed impairment by alcohol. After providing a breath sample at the Josephine County Jail, Ryder was booked for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Felony Driving While Revoked, five counts of Reckless Endangering and Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for Felony Driving While Suspended. He was also cited for No Insurance.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Medford woman for impaired driving last night after she crashed her vehicle over an embankment off Rogue River Highway near Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 4 of Highway 99 on Tuesday at 7:08 p.m.. State troopers said 60-year-old Julia Parnell was driving a Dodge Neon north on the highway near Royal View Lane when she lost control and drove down an embankment. They said she was highly impaired at the time and placed into custody on suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. Parnell was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she provided a breath sample that was nearly three times the legal driving limit. She was charged with DUII-Alcohol before being cited to appear in court. Her car was impounded.

 

No one was injured when a Jeep nearly collided with a motorcycle in downtown Cave Junction late yesterday. The Oregon State Police and emergency crews responded to the incident at the intersection of Redwood and Caves highways on Tuesday at 5:19 p.m.. Troopers said a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 67-year-old Vicki Shump of Selma entered US Highway 199 from State Route 46 and nearly hit a motorcycle operated by 31-year-old David Swanagan of Cave Junction. According to OSP, Swanagan swerved to avoid the Jeep and ended up laying down the motorcycle on the roadway. The street bike was damaged and had to be towed, but neither Swanagan nor Shump was injured. It was unclear in the report whether any citations were issued.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office has identified the suspect arrested for the Sunday night shooting in White City. The suspect -- 27-year-old Hector Cruz Orozco of White City -- was lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of 2nd-Degree Attempted Murder, 1st-Degree Assault and two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Meanwhile, the unidentified victim has been flown to an out-of-area hospital for further treatment and remains in critical condition. Through the initial investigation, detectives learned Orozco and the victim were at a mobile home in the 3700-block of Falcon Street on Sunday evening. Orozco shot the victim at close range as they exited the residence and then fled on a bicycle. Deputies responded to the call for gunshots in the area of 29th Street and Avenue G, but Orozco was no longer at the scene. On Monday, the investigation led detectives to a house in the 7800-block of Laura Lane in White City. A search warrant was served with assistance from SWAT, K-9 and Crisis Negotiation teams. Orozco was placed into custody at 5:54 p.m.. The Jackson County District Attorney's Office will prosecute the case, which is still under investigation.