Local News

Oregon families are starting to see their November food stamp benefits restored to their Oregon Trail Cards. According to The Oregonian, Governor Tina Kotek said that Oregon Department of Human Services employees worked through the night to issue the funds. On Thursday afternoon, a federal judge told President Donald Trump he must find the money to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which has been threatened by the government shutdown. The federal government appealed that decision, but the order prompted Kotek to tell the Oregon Department of Human Services to release full SNAP benefits for November. More than 750,000 Oregonians rely on the food benefits.

 

A persistent weather pattern of cooler temperatures and consistent rain prompted a decrease in restrictions for industrial slash burning, effective Monday, November 10, at 12:01 a.m. As a result, the Oregon Department of Forestry says prescribed fire and industrial slash burning may increase in high-elevation, remote areas throughout Jackson and Josephine Counties. These restrictions are specifically for industrial use and are separate from general public debris burning regulations. Before a debris or barrel burn, members of the public should first contact their local fire district for any needed permits, and on the day of the debris burn, contact the appropriate county burn line to confirm it is a burn day. For those in Jackson County, the number is 541-776-7007. In Josephine County, it's (541) 476-9663. Even though the fire season is officially over, please continue to practice fire prevention when burning debris by ensuring a burn pile is never left un-attended and using caution when using machinery that could cause a spark. Fire prevention tips and information from the ODF Southwest Oregon District is available online at www.swofire.com, Additional information can be found at www.oregon.gov/odf/fire

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was alerted to a vehicle rollover crash at the corner of Foothill Boulevard and W Jones Creek Road Thursday morning.

The caller reported the vehicle was on its roof in a ditch. The airbags had deployed, and there was a mother with her three children inside. The vehicle began smoking, but the occupants were able to exit the vehicle.

Deputies arranged for the vehicle to be towed, and spoke with the driver, Katia MacMillian. She was ok with her children going home without seeking medical attention, but officers noticed she had a strong odor of alcohol on her breath.

MacMillian admitted to drinking one shot of vodka prior to picking up her children from school. She denied consent for a blood draw at Three Rivers Medical Center.

Deputies took MacMillian into custody. She was subsequently lodged in the Josephine County Jail for three counts of Reckless Endangering, Reckless Driving, and DUII.

 

Emergency crews responded to a single vehicle crash Thursday night.

At 7:13 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District and AMR-Josephine County responded to a reported traffic accident at Redwood Hwy and Smokejumper Way in Cave Junction.

Upon arrival, a single vehicle was found in a ditch. The occupant sustained no injuries and was independently arranging for vehicle recovery.

 

The Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce is alerting the public of an email scam. In a message from President and CEO of the Chamber Terry Hopkins, he says they have been notified that scammers are sending emails posing as Chamber Board Members requesting assistance with an "Expense Payment". In one case, the scams show the sender as Board Chair Alan Meyer, but the email shows a Gmail address. The public is reminded that the neither the Chamber Board, nor any of the Committee members have email addresses that would show their position with the Chamber. Furthermore, no Board or Committee members will ever request any financial information or payments. That would only come from Chamber staff. The chamber staff have email addresses that end in @grantspasschamber.org. If you ever question the validity of an email, do not hesitate to reach out to the Chamber by calling (541) 476-7717.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were notified of a domestic disturbance Wednesday morning.

At 11:49 a.m., the suspect's father called and told dispatch his son had been screaming, yelling, and threatening him, his wife, and their neighbors. It was unknown if the suspect had any weapons but his father thought he may have a knife.

When deputies arrived, the suspect was outside the property in the 1600 block of Pleasant Valley Road still yelling and screaming. He was contacted and identified by deputies as Eric Spears.

It was found Spears had a Sheriff's Office warrant out for his arrest for Unlawful Possession of Meth. He was transported and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a Meth Possession warrant Wednesday afternoon.

Deputies located and detained the suspect, Michael Carrero, in the 18,000 block of Redwood Highway at 3:58 p.m.

Carrero was wanted on a Grants Pass Police Department warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine. He was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police officers were notified of a man trespassing on railroad property in an undisclosed location Wednesday afternoon.

The caller stated the man, who had been trespassed before, was carrying a stick and heading west on the tracks.

Officers arrived and contacted the suspect. He was refusing to identify himself, and officers took him into custody. The man's previous trespass was confirmed, and he was identified as Jacob Miller.

During an inventory search of Miller's backpack, a small amount of a white crystalline substance was located. Charges of Meth Possession were referred to the District Attorney's Office.

Miller was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for First Degree Criminal Trespass, and Offensive Littering.

 

Three calls came in to dispatch regarding a woman going through a neighborhood screaming Wednesday afternoon.

One of the calls, coming in around 3:24 p.m., said the matter had been going on for an hour. The caller said they told the woman to leave the area after she screamed she was the Illuminati.

While holding a stick, the suspect continued walking in and out of the road and other resident's yards in the SE N Street neighborhood. The caller reported traffic was stopped due to the woman's behavior.

Officers were notified, and upon arrival, had to advise the suspect, Crystal Jenness, that she was under arrest three times. Despite this, she continued to walk away from law enforcement.

An additional unit arrived, and Jenness was taken into custody without incident. Officers lodged her in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, and Third Degree Escape.