Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Sunny Valley woman for violating her probation by stealing a vehicle in Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 27-year-old Tesla Elouise Jinks in the 400-block of Old Highway 99 in Wolf Creek on Saturday at 11:21 a.m.. They had been looking for her at a residence on Placer Road, but she was not there. Deputies said Jinks was the suspect in the theft of a Lincoln Town Car that occurred on November 14th. They said she was found in the driver's seat of the stolen car in the parking lot that stores buses across from the Wolf Creek General Store. Some clothing that was worn by the auto theft suspect was found in the car and she was placed into custody without incident. Tesla Jinks was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and the resulting Probation Violation related to previous crimes she allegedly committed. Jail records show she has been arrested three times for Felony Parole Violation since June 1st and she was being held on a no-bail detainer. The stolen vehicle was recovered by its registered owner.

 

Police arrested a woman on an outstanding warrant and for additional crimes after she was found camping inside a restroom at the Grants Pass Skate Park. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers responded to reports that there were subjects living in the restroom at the skate park located in the 800-block of SE M Street on Saturday around 12:20 p.m.. Police arrived on scene and contacted 54-year-old Amanda Marie Ahulau inside the restroom. She had left garbage scattered in the bathroom and placed items in the toilet that would make it a substantial inconvenience for park staff to clean out. She was also in possession of a WinCo shopping cart valued at more than $1,000. A routine records check revealed that Ahulau was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Disorderly Conduct. She was placed into custody. Amanda Ahulau was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant along with new charges of Felony 1st-Degree Theft, 2nd-Degree Disorderly Conduct, 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Offensive Littering. She was also cited for Illegal Camping and trespassed from the skate park for 30 days.

 

One person was injured in a chain-reaction weather-related crash that occurred over the weekend at a notorious section of Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County. On Saturday at 11:36 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Oregon State Police were dispatched to a motor vehicle mishap in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 68 on Mount Sexton. Rural Metro officials said the wreck occurred just as heavy rain moved into the area. As a result of the first crash, a second crash occurred. One person was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was hurt. The Oregon Department of Transportation assisted with traffic control while the scene was active. At least one vehicle was towed into Grants Pass. Officials said this freeway location is no stranger to crashes, especially when the pavement is wet and driving habits are not adjusted accordingly.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District extinguished an unattended open burn and cited the responsible party in the Cave Junction area at the beginning of the weekend. On Friday at 9:07 p.m., IVFD crews were dispatched to the open burn in the 4700-block of Holland Loop Road. Crews quickly extinguished the blaze. There was no spread to the surrounding wildland nor were any structures threatened. The responsible party was cited for burning trash and burning without a permit. IVFD officials remind residents that no burning of trash is ever allowed and there is absolutely no burning allowed at night.

 

The Rogue Community College Board of Education will hold a work session before its regular meeting on Tuesday evening. The 4 p.m. RCC Board work session will include discussion on the recent retreat, committee structure, future meeting agendas and team agreements. The 5 p.m. meeting will include reports on RCC Student Government, Faculty Association, Faculty Senate and Classified Association followed by reports from the Executive Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, and Board Outreach Committee along with a report from the OCCA/OSBA Liaison. RCC President Randy Weber will provide an update and there will be reports from the Senior Leadership Team and the Foundation. Board Action Items include the second reading of a policy on Political Activity by RCC Employees, a contract with Johnson Controls for Building Automation Services and Approval of Emeritus Status for Cessa Vichi. Tuesday's work session and meeting will take place at the RCC Redwood Campus, Building H and Room 2 in Grants Pass.

 

The Josephine County Law Enforcement District appears to have been approved by voters by a narrow margin of just 300 votes. According to the Josephine County Clerk's Office on Friday afternoon, Measure 17-115 was passing by a 51% to 49% tally. Josephine County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels said the latest count showed 7,608 voters saying "yes" to the local law enforcement district and 7,308 voters saying "no." She said the next update will be posted by 5 p.m. November 29th and the certified results will be released no later than Monday, December 4th, at 5 p.m.. Measure 17-115 sets a permanent property tax rate of 99 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. That amounts to $99 for every $100,000 of assessed value. The new district will allow the Sheriff's Office to maintain the full-time equivalent of 20 deputies, 6.25 dispatchers and 1.5 evidence or property technicians. Meanwhile, Grants Pass voters overwhelmingly approved a five-year renewal of the $1.79 option levy that helps fund police and fire services. The tally on Friday was 78.2% yes and 21.8% no. The unofficial turnout as of Friday afternoon was 34.7%, with just over 34% of the ballots accepted.

 

The National Weather Service has posted an Air Stagnation Advisory for most of Southern Oregon and Northern California. The Air Stagnation Advisory is in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday and it includes Jackson, Josephine, eastern Curry, and central and eastern Douglas counties as well as the Klamath Basin in Oregon. It also includes Siskiyou and Modoc counties in California. Poor air mixing and light winds means that stagnant air is expected. This will lead to deteriorating air quality. Air stagnation is likely to result in diminishing air quality over time, especially in and near areas with significant sources of pollution. Diminished air quality is likely to cause health issues for people with respiratory problems if precautions are not taken. People with respiratory illness should follow their physician's advice for dealing with diminished air quality. N95 masks are effective at filtering out the majority of harmful air particulates. State air quality agencies highly recommend that no outdoor burning occur and that residential wood burning devices be limited as much as possible. Prolonged periods of stagnant air can hold pollutants close to the ground where people live and breathe.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office received a generous Thanksgiving donation from a local business late last week. The Sheriff's Office is thanking Quantum Innovations, Inc., for donating 28 full Thanksgiving meals that will go to families in need. The Sheriff's Office is working alongside the Jackson County Rogue Family Center to gather Thanksgiving meals for families in need in the upper Rogue Valley. They are looking to collect meal items from community members who wish to donate and can bring in full meals for families that would reflect a typical holiday dinner. They are accepting donations until 6 p.m. today at the Jackson County Sheriff's Office at 5179 Crater Lake Highway in Central Point. If by chance they have leftover meals, they will be donating all extra items to the Rogue Family Center's Food Distribution Center. Thanksgiving food items they are looking for include turkey, stuffing mix, potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, yams, bread or rolls, and items for green bean casserole.

 

Election results from the November Special Election on November 7th were updated Friday afternoon by County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels with no change in results at this time. The vote narrowed a bit on measure 17-115, the Josephine County Law Enforcement District. The measure is still passing but the margin has narrowed from 362 votes to 300 votes. Measure 17-114, the Grants Pass Police and Fire levy renewal remains a solid yes 78% to 21 %. According to Ms. Henkels the next update will be on November 29th with the final certification by 5 p.m. December 4th.