Local News

Emergency crews were dispatched to traffic incidents and a vegetation fire over the weekend.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were on the scene of a collision between a vehicle and motorcyclist Saturday at 12:01 p.m. The incident occurred on the Redwood Highway at Draper Valley Road in Selma.

Mercy Flights was dispatched for the medical transport of one individual to Medford, while Rural Metro crews assisted in the landing zone for the flight. The roadway reopened around 1 p.m., and Oregon State Police lead the investigation. Troopers gave the motorcycle rider citations for driving while suspended and unsafe passing on the right.

The next day at 12:38 a.m., IVFD, Rural Metro, AMR, the U.S. Forest Service, and Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a collision involving two motorcyclists and a deer.

The collision took place at milepost 16 of U.S. Highway 199 at Briggs Valley Road in Selma. Southbound traffic was temporarily obstructed during the emergency response.

One of the drivers made physical contact with the deer, attempting to kick it out of the way when they collided. One individual was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for further evaluation.

Lastly, Sunday at 12:51 p.m., a vegetation fire was reported in the 11,000 block of Alt House Road in Cave Junction, leading to the response of IVFD, Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Crews arrived at the scene of a quarter acre fire, and began suppression efforts. Rural Metro covered the district while Sheriff's Office units were in the field with fire crews.

 

The Josephine County Animal Control received a complaint of possible animal neglect October 4th. The following day, Animal Control Officers (ACO) made contact with Roxanda Radomsky to begin an investigation into the allegations. ACOs offered solutions and attempted to assist Radomsky with her situation and gave her a deadline to remedy the situation, to which she failed to comply with. Josephine County Animal Control Officers, assisted by Josephine County Sheriff's Office Detectives and Grants Pass Police Department, then served a search warrant October 8th at Radomsky’s residence on NE Ridge Road. During the search warrant, 4 dogs, 1 cat, and 2 large pigs were seized from inside of the residence. Radomsky was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Adult Jail for one charge of First Degree Animal Neglect, and six counts of Animal Neglect in the Second Degree. All 7 animals have been examined and are receiving necessary care. No further details are being released at this time.

 

A man was arrested Thursday by Josephine County Sheriff's deputies for two stalking order violations.

According to the police report, the suspect, later identified as Jason Bergstad, had reportedly shot at a woman's house the last few days. She told dispatch Bergstad, whom she had a restraining order against, was outside the home screaming at her around 8:40 p.m.

Bergstad was shining lights at the house, yelling profanities, and hurling accusations at the caller. He proceeded to walk down the street, and deputies later arrived at the scene. They contacted Bergstad, and took him into custody.

He was transported to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility where he was lodged for his misdemeanor stalking order violations. One in reference to the current incident, and the second for a previous case.

 

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Urban Tree Advisory Committee.

The purpose of the committee is to review, develop, and implement programs and activities that promote, protect, and enhance the urban forest as a part of the Tree City, USA program.

The special qualifications for this position are an interest in the promotion and enhancement of the urban forest. Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 9the, and will be reviewed by the committee Monday, December 14th. Appointments will be made at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 6th.

 

Applications are being accepted for one position on the Historical Buildings and Sites Commission.

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

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, with the special qualification for this position being the applicant is a representative from the local historical society. Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday, December 3rd. Applicants will be interviewed by the commission at the Historical Buildings and Sites Commission meeting on Thursday, December 10th, and by the Council at their workshop Monday, January 4th.

Appointments will be made during the City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 6th.

 

Following a reported head butting incident Thursday, deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office lodged the suspect for the assault and methamphetamine possession.

The 911 caller told dispatch he had been head butted, and that the suspect lived in the 300 block of W Jones Creek Road, where the incident took place. The caller declined an ambulance, and officers arrived to the scene around 3:45 p.m.

The suspect, identified as Rodger Blanco, was contacted and taken into custody. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Fourth Degree Assault and Possession of Meth.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman wanted out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office on Assault and Harassment charges.

The suspect was contacted on the west side of Reinhart Volunteer Park and advised not to vape if not in the parking lot. She was also told not to sleep in the park, though she was just lying on a blanket at the time according to the report.

Officers identified her as Rachel Campbell, and realized she was wanted on a warrant. She was taken into custody at the scene, her warrant was confirmed, and officers lodged her in the Adult Jail Facility.

 

Dispatch was notified of a man trespassing at the Jelly Donut, later to find he was wanted for Fentanyl Possession Thursday.

An employee of the 1695 NE 7th Street shop reported the suspect was on crutches and possibly under the influence outside the business at 10:14 a.m. He was having a hard time standing up, and was playing with construction equipment on the sidewalk per the employee.

It was requested the suspect be trespassed, and law enforcement conduct a welfare check. The suspect proceeded across the street towards the nearby Dutch Bros., where he was soon contacted by Grants Pass Police.

Officers identified him as John Johann, and found he was wanted out of the Police Department for Unlawful Possession of Fentanyl. He was arrested for his warrant, and consented to a search, which resulted in the identification of a small silicone container with a white crystalized powder in his pocket.

The substance field tested positive for methamphetamine. Johann was then transported to jail to be lodged on his warrant and Meth Possession charge. He was also trespassed from the Jelly Donut.

 

Further details have been released into the recent Williams Highway Missing Person case. Andrew Forrest Odom, 67, of Incline Village, Nevada, was reported missing to the Medford Police Department on October 1st. The initial investigation found Odom had traveled from Carson City, Nevada, to Medford on September 21st. His last known whereabouts were in Josephine County on September 22nd. As the investigation progressed and suspicious circumstances were identified, the investigation was transferred to the Oregon State Police and the Josephine County Major Crimes Team was activated. OSP detectives contacted a subject during the follow-up investigation October 6th in the 10,000 block of Williams Highway. During the contact, the subject fled into a residence and fired shots at detectives. Tactical resources from the Grants Pass Police Department and the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area.