Local News

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office lodged a man wanted on three warrants Tuesday.

The suspect was detained at 9:13 a.m. in the 100 block of S Redwood Highway. He was observed while driving and reportedly turned quickly to avoid the deputy. The vehicle had expired tags, and the suspect was later seen walking away after parking.

The deputy recognized him as Luke Mulligan, and knew he was driving while suspended. Upon contact with the deputy, Mulligan admitted to being in possession of methamphetamine. He was promptly taken into custody and transported to jail.

Mulligan was not only lodged for Driving While Suspended and Meth Possession, but for three warrants. Two from the Sheriff's Office, and one out of the Grants Pass Police Department. Charges against him included First Degree Theft, Driving While Suspended, and Identity Theft.

A search of his vehicle was conducted. Items located inside were returned to family of Mulligan, and the deputy arranged for the vehicle's removal.

 

Rogue Community College has been awarded two grants totaling $150,000 from the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission to develop short-term, stackable credentials in healthcare and electric vehicle safety.

According to a release, the accelerated programs will prepare students for immediate employment while creating pathways to advanced certificates and degrees.

Each $75,000 award supports the development of programs designed in partnership with regional employers and workforce organizations. Curriculum development, equipment purchases, faculty preparation and institutional approvals will take place during the 2026-27 academic year, with the new credentials scheduled to launch in September 2027.

One grant will support the redesign of three existing programs in dental assisting, emergency medical services and medical assisting. The second grant will support development of a new electric vehicle safety credential that will stack into RCC’s quick lube training and broader Transportation Technology pathways.

Both initiatives will incorporate the Oregon Employability Skills identified by regional employers as essential to workplace success, including adaptability, communication, collaboration, digital literacy and safety-focused problem-solving.

Development activities will be completed by June 30th, 2027, with the first students expected to begin the new programs in fall 2027.

 

Rogue Community College is now scheduling appointments for fall term at its Dental Hygiene Clinic, where RCC students can receive services for free, and members of the public can access affordable preventive dental care and treatment.

Fall term runs from September 28th to December 11th. Located at RCC’s Table Rock Campus in White City, the Dental Hygiene Clinic gives dental hygiene and dental assisting students hands-on experience while providing accessible care to the community. Services are provided under the supervision of licensed dental professionals.

RCC students can receive clinic services at no charge. Community members can access a variety of low-cost services, including dental screenings and assessment appointments at no charge, full-mouth X-rays for $30, sealants for $5 per tooth and fluoride treatments for $10.

Free dental X-rays may also be available to qualified participants. Patients must not have had a full-mouth X-ray within the past three years.

Services are available by appointment. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the RCC Dental Hygiene Clinic at 541-955-7577 or email dentalinfo@roguecc.edu. To learn more about the clinic’s services, visit www.roguecc.edu/clinic.

 

Drivers should expect weekday traffic delays south of Canyonville starting Monday, September 14th, as workers remove several dozen fire-damaged trees along Interstate 5.

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, tree-cutting operations are scheduled from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each Monday through Friday until the end of September.

Rolling slowdowns will be used in both directions of I-5, affecting southbound traffic from milepost 103 to 95 (Tri City to Canyon Creek) and northbound traffic from milepost 87 to 95 (Azalea to Canyon Creek).

During a rolling slowdown, pilot cars hold traffic to a slow but steady pace to give crews time to cut down trees. This allows the crews to work safely while avoiding lengthy road closures. Emergency vehicles are allowed to pass through, as needed.

Flaggers will briefly hold traffic at several southbound on-ramps, including Exits 103, 102, 101, 99, 98, and Exit 95. Only one northbound on-ramp, Exit 88, will be affected. Most delays will be less than 20 minutes.

Message boards will be placed ahead of the work zone in both directions. Drivers should watch for traffic control devices, workers and construction vehicles, and debris in the roadway.

The trees were damaged by the Milepost 97 Complex Fire in 2019 and many are at risk of falling into the I-5 travel lanes.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners tabled a Special Service District discussion, and approved 3-0 an order accepting by-laws for the Economic Development Committee at today's workshop. Beginning at 1:30 p.m., a discussion regarding a potential district for the District Attorney, Juvenile Justice, and Jail, was tabled until after the November Election. Legal Counsel then provided clarity on potential agenda modifications regarding best practices, agenda item adding and voting, and provided notices for said agendas. The board approved the appointment of Marie Curren as Behavioral Health Peer to the Addictions Mental Health Public Health Advisory Committee. Both Don Bellville and Joel Perkin were approved 2-1 for re-appointment to the County Mining Advisory Committee. Commissioner Gary Richardson was the lone dissenting vote. Commissioner Colene Martin wanted to see if the board would be willing to provide an endorsement for the 93 cent Jail Levy at a cost of $400 for informational purposes to the community. With the board in agreement, it was approved without objection.

 

A reported assault occurred outside a home in the 5300 block of Jerome Prairie Road Monday evening.

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the incident following a call to 911 around 7:05 p.m. The suspect, whom the victim did not know, had shown up at the property and attempted to pull the victim out of a vehicle by her hair.

The suspect had parked in front of the victim's vehicle, blocking it in. Medical units were requested due to a possible laceration on the victim's hand. Deputies arrived and took the suspect into custody after she was being resistive.

The suspect admitted to the actions of the reporting party's statement. She was then arrested on charges of Assault in the Fourth Degree, and transported to the Josephine County Jail. She was lodged at 8:31 p.m.

 

A recreational vehicle appliance fire in the 7200 block of Holland Loop Road in Cave Junction was reported to dispatch this morning.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District responded to the scene following the 9:49 a.m. report. Responders observed no active smoke or fire at the scene. The occupants had successfully suppressed the localized fire within the refrigerator using a nearby hose.

After verifying that the fire had not extended, the scene was released to the owner, with instructions to engage a technician for refrigerator repairs.

 

A traffic stop conducted by Josephine County Sheriff's deputies led to the arrest of a suspended driver.

The suspect vehicle, a dark green Dodge was pulled over in the 5600 block of Upper River Road Monday at 8:43 p.m. Deputies observed the vehicle being operated on a public roadway without rear taillights.

Upon contact with the driver, officers found William Haywood was suspended from driving at the misdemeanor level. He was not driving for an emergent reason, so he was taken into custody.

Haywood's family was contacted to come and retrieve the vehicle, and he was subsequently transported to jail for lodging on his Driving While Suspended charge.

 

Dispatch received report of what was thought to be a gunshot, leading police to lodge a man following a brief foot pursuit. A call to 911 reported the alleged gunshot Monday around 10:09 p.m. The caller reported two suspects had been fighting, but ran from the scene in separate directions from a property in the 700 block of SW Burgess Street. Another call to dispatch reported one of the suspects appearing to be under the influence near the Short Stop Market. The caller said several loud shots were heard, and the suspect was reported to be going westbound on SW Bridge Street. Officers located the suspect and told him he was under arrest. He fled on foot however, but was apprehended after a short foot pursuit. The suspect was identified as Ely Smith, and it was learned he had swung a small metal shovel at a telephone pole, causing the reports of what were thought to be gunshots. Smith was searched, booked, and then lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, Third Degree Escape, and a probation violation detainer.