Local News

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is reporting an increase in motor vehicle break-ins and thefts at local recreation area parking lots. Deputies are investigating multiple Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle cases that occurred recently at the Table Rock Hiking Trail parking lots near Central Point and the Rogue River Ti'Lomikh Falls day use parking lot near Gold Hill. The Sheriff's Office has increased patrols in these areas, but encourages the public to be cautious. Please be aware of the potential for vehicle break-ins when visiting recreation areas around Jackson County. Sheriff's officials warn people not to leave valuables in their vehicles -- leave them at home or take them with you. If you must leave valuables or belongings in your vehicle, keep them out of sight. If your belongings are visible from outside your vehicle, it increases the likelihood that a thief will target your vehicle. If you are a victim of a vehicle break-in at a Jackson County recreation area, call Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon at 9-1-1. The Sheriff's Office non-emergency number is (541)-776-7206.

 

A project to replace two deteriorating bridge decks will close two ramps at Interstate 5 Exit 71 in Sunny Valley for about one week. Starting Sunday, the Oregon Department of Transportation said the northbound off-ramp and southbound off-ramp at I-5 Exit 71 will be closed at all hours for several days. ODOT officials said the closures will not affect the entire freeway interchange, but detours will cause delays for some travelers. Travelers should budget extra time for their commutes. During the closure, northbound traffic will access Sunny Valley by continuing north to Exit 76 in Wolf Creek and then returning south on I-5 to Exit 71. Drivers planning to travel south on I-5 from Sunny Valley will detour by traveling north to Exit 76 and then taking southbound I-5. Both detours are approximately 10 miles. Travelers are cautioned to avoid using local roads as a detour during the ramp closures. Secondary roads are not suitable for heavy traffic and commercial vehicles. Once the exit ramps have reopened, watch for workers remaining in the area to complete the bridge deck project. Please drive with caution and watch your speed in the work zone. The work is estimated to be completed by June 6th.

 

The newly appointed director of Josephine County's newest department played a large role in yesterday's weekly business session of the Board of Commissioners. Josephine County Community Justice Director Scott Hyde testified on three Administrative Action items on the meeting agenda. Hyde has been the head of Community Corrections and he recently assumed the Juvenile Justice directorship. Hyde presented a Community Justice Vehicle Purchase request for four new Ford Explorers totaling $162,066. He testified that budget adjustments were made to help pay for the new vehicles that will replace three Jeep Cherokees and one Ford Crown Victoria that are 6 years old. The Board unanimously approved the request. Hyde also presented a five-year contract with the Oregon Department of Human Services worth $884,406 for a juvenile justice residential treatment program along with a two-year contract renewal with the Oregon Youth Authority that will bring more than $400,000 to the County for an extended detention program. The Board also unanimously approved the intergovernmental agreements. Drug Prevention Coordinator Shawn Martinez also presented three Administrative Action items to the Commissioners, but she was not as fortunate. The Board failed to make any motions on grant agreements with the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT), Max's Mission and the HIV Alliance. All three organizations had made funding requests for disbursed opioid settlement money totaling $1.3 million.

 

In order to reduce the threat of wildfire while restoring forest function, the Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management plans to begin prescribed burning this month. With the increased temperatures, fuels are starting to dry out enough to allow spring prescribed burning operations on about 1,500 acres of BLM-administered lands in southwest Oregon. Residents can expect to see smoke in the Applegate Valley, near Grants Pass and north of Butte Falls. Burning will start one week after warmer weather sets in. Prescribed burning applies low-intensity fire to the forest floor, which reduces the severity of future wildland fires. Prescribed burns are thoroughly planned and require a strict approval process for smoke management, fire safety and ecological outcomes before professional staff apply fire on the ground. The Medford BLM District completed 3,700 acres of handpile burning over the winter. Handpile burns occur when debris is manually piled up and then burned. The material comes from hazardous fuels reduction projects and commercial timber operations that occur on BLM lands.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Thursday proclaimed May 4th to be "Sanctity of Human Life and Respect for Life Day." Josephine County Right to Life is inviting the public to join them in their annual "March for Life" in Grants Pass on Sunday. Participants will gather at the Josephine County Courthouse at 1 p.m. and the southbound march through downtown Grants Pass will commence at 1:30. The March for Life will wind up at the Main Pavilion of Riverside Park for "live" worship music, speakers and refreshments. There will be prayer with local pastors and pro-life messages from local and state representatives. Right to Life organizer Steve Raycraft said "join us to pray to end abortion and renew your commitment for life because everyone deserves an advocate." For more information, contact Raycraft at "sraycraft54@gmail.com" or call (541)-621-2538. You can also contact Rick Nelson at "gpcats@charter.net."

 

The new director of Josephine County's newest department played a large role in today's weekly business session of the Board of Commissioners. Josephine County Community Justice Director Scott Hyde testified on three Administrative Action items on the meeting agenda. Hyde has been the head of Community Corrections and he recently assumed the Juvenile Justice directorship. Hyde presented a Community Justice Vehicle Purchase request for four new Ford Explorers totaling $162,066. He testified that budget adjustments were made to help pay for the new vehicles that will replace three Jeep Cherokees and one Ford Crown Victoria that are 6 years old. The Board unanimously approved the request. Hyde also presented a five-year contract with the Oregon Department of Human Services worth $884,406 for a juvenile justice residential treatment program along with a two-year contract renewal with the Oregon Youth Authority that will bring more than $400,000 to the County for an extended detention program. The Board also unanimously approved the intergovernmental agreements. Drug Prevention Coordinator Shawn Martinez also presented three Administrative Action items to the Commissioners, but she was not as fortunate. The Board failed to make any motions on grant agreements with the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT), Max's Mission and the HIV Alliance. All three organizations had made funding requests for disbursed opioid settlement money totaling $1.3 million.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Williams man for violating a court order yesterday after he called 9-1-1 to report a domestic disturbance. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 74-year-old Robert Elvin Larsen for the incident in the 300-block of Kincaid Road on Wednesday shortly after 2 p.m.. Deputies said Larsen called 9-1-1 to report that his wife had assaulted him. They said there had been multiple hang up calls from the same number earlier in the day. An investigation determined that Larsen and his estranged wife live in separate residences on the same property. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Larsen's wife who told them her husband was in a rage that morning and had thrown her into a fence before leaving. She also showed them a valid no-contact order prohibiting her husband from approaching her. Larsen admitted that he knew about the court order when he went to his wife's home. He was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving in the Redwood area last night after he punched another motorist in the face. The Police Department reports officers responded to the reported assault at the intersection of East Park and 7th streets on Wednesday around 9:15 p.m.. Police said the victim called 9-1-1 to report a motorist later identified as 48-year-old Thomas Daniel Negrette, Sr., exited his vehicle at the stop light and punched him twice before he could roll up the window. The victim was not seriously hurt and followed the suspect whom he believed was under the influence of alcohol. Negrette reportedly drove west while swerving all over Redwood Highway before he turned onto Redwood Avenue and entered the Redwood Center. The victim followed him while maintaining contact with dispatchers. He observed the suspect enter the Redwood Market and exit the store with a beer in his hand. Officers swooped in and contacted Negrette who displayed signs of impairment, but refused to answer questions or participate in field sobriety tests. A search warrant was obtained and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented his impairment. Negrette was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Physical Harassment. His Chrysler 300 was towed.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant after finding him hiding at his grandmother's house late last night. According to the Police Department, officers located 25-year-old Alex Ushaiah Tallman at a home in the 700-block of NE 10th Street at 11:22 p.m. Wednesday. Police said they were looking for Tallman because he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Domestic Menacing. They saw the suspect enter the driveway of the residence and moved in for the arrest. Tallman's grandmother answered the door and claimed her grandson had escaped out a window. She consented to a search of her home and officers found Tallman hiding inside a closet. Tallman was placed into custody and lodged in jail on the outstanding warrant.