Local News

Oregon is working to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, and protect communities by investing $10 million in projects that are part of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s landscape resiliency approach.

The current grant awards will fund joint projects in Douglas, Grant, Jackson, and Josephine counties. The projects will reduce hazardous fuels, restore fire-adapted landscapes, and improve landscape resilience across more than 6,400 acres.

The projects in Josephine and Jackson counties include $4.85 million being invested through the Hotshot Rx Connect project. This project will thin forest stands and use prescribed fire across almost 2,700 acres. The work will reduce hazardous fuels, restore forest health, and improve wildfire response access.

The ODF landscape resiliency effort is Oregon’s primary all-lands investment hub to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires before fires even start. This approach supports efforts across public, private, and Tribal lands. The goal is to coordinate and complete landscape-scale work that helps forests and protects communities.

ODF is focusing on larger forest resiliency by reducing tree density in some areas and planting better adapted trees in others.

 

Following an attempted truck theft, Josephine County Sheriff's deputies lodged a man for trespassing and methamphetamine possession.

Dispatch was alerted to the theft attempt around 2:41 p.m. Sunday in the 126,000 block of Water Gap Road. The 911 caller's truck was parked and running next to the road. Someone had just tried to get into the vehicle at the time of the call, then proceeded to walk down the road northbound.

Deputies were dispatched and located the suspect around 3:05 p.m. near Williams Highway. He was identified as Sean Gunn, then arrested for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, and Possession of Meth. Deputies proceeded to lodge Gunn in the Adult Jail Facility.

 

Medford Fire Department crews responded to a second-alarm structure fire Sunday at 9 p.m. reported at the Loring property.

Located at 2250 Biddle Road, the fire was knocked down, and crews conducted mop-up operations and evaluated the structure. One individual was transported to the hospital.

Medford Police and Jackson County Fire District also responded to the scene. Fire investigators were on scene working to determine the cause.

 

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.