Local News

To boost the number of firefighters across Oregon before wildfire season, the Oregon State Fire Marshal announced it has awarded $6 million in grants to 191 local fire agencies across the state -- including 12 agencies in Southern Oregon. The 2024 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant program is in its third year. Local agencies in the Oregon structural fire service were eligible to apply for up to $35,000. The funding will allow selected agencies to bring on additional firefighters or increase on-duty hours during the upcoming fire season. Locally, OSFM grants were awarded to the Applegate Valley Fire District, Ashland Fire & Rescue, Azalea Rural Fire Protection District, Evans Valley Fire District, Greensprings Rural Fire Protection District, Illinois Valley Fire District, Jackson County Fire District #4, Jacksonville Fire Department, Lake Creek Rural Fire Protection District, Prospect Rural Fire Protection District, Rogue River Fire District and Williams Rural Fire Protection District. The 2024 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant program is part of a multi-pronged approach to combat wildfires in Oregon. This grant is part of the OSFM's "Response Ready Oregon initiative."

 

Hidden Valley High School students were witnesses to the graphic reality of a two-vehicle crash simulation as part of the national "Every 15 Minutes" campaign on Wednesday. The simulation was staged on the track in front of the grandstands, where students experienced a realistic perspective of what can happen as a result of impaired or distracted driving. As the students watched in silence, several kids were packaged and transported to hospitals and one was transported to the morgue. A student "driver" who survived was taken to jail due to "a high level of impairment." Rural Metro Fire Department officials said this message of prevention comes as students are preparing for their prom and the end of the school year. They said it's everyone's wish that they all make good decisions while having fun. Officials said families should have serious conversations regarding the dangers of driving impaired or being a passenger with someone who might be impaired. To learn more, visit "every15minutes.com."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning tabled a public hearing on the first reading of an ordinance that would amend the Rural Land Development Code for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The Board opened the hearing but decided to continue it due to lingering questions about fire protection on rural and forested lands. Is the Oregon Department of Forestry a fire service provider? That's the question the Board wants answered. Assistant Community Development Director James Black testified the ordinance amends the development code to allow accessory dwelling units on properties that are more than two acres in size. He said it also allows the conversion of historic homes on such properties into ADUs, adding that all the provisions contained in the amendment are based on state statutes. However, when the Commissioners questioned the state-mandated rule to provide proof of fire protection for these developments neither Black nor County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks would provide an answer. The Board has already passed an ordinance that states ODF is a fire service provider for forest land developments. The Public Comment period was lengthy with several people addressing the Board on a new offer for the proposed Pipe Fork Timber Sale near Williams. The new offer is reportedly $2,320,000 for the 320-acre property, which is $300,000 higher than the original offer funded by a conservancy organization. The Commissioners are scheduled to consider the new offer during a Thursday executive session. Other comments came from Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Director Colleen Padilla who encouraged the Board to remember the good work SOREDI has done in Josephine County, a Master Gardener who urged the Board not to defund the OSU Extension Service and three Colonial Valley residents who made complaints about a dangerous dog on Palomino Drive.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant early yesterday during a patrol check at the Williams Highway Plaza. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 37-year-old male subject at the Plaza Liquor Store on Tuesday at about 9 a.m.. Police said they contacted the man outside the liquor store and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show the man has been arrested for violating terms of his post-prison supervision four times since July of last year.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested an out-of-state motorist on a local warrant during an Interstate 5 traffic stop in northern Josephine County early yesterday. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Saturn station wagon driven by a 46-year-old man from Nevada, Missouri, in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 75 on Tuesday shortly after 7 a.m.. Troopers said they initiated contact with what appeared to be a disabled motorist, but the driver identified himself and said his vehicle was not disabled. A routine records check revealed the man was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. The suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. His vehicle was towed to an impound yard.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested three people for their outlandish behavior in three separate incidents on Tuesday. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. yesterday at Radio Design Group on NW E Street. Police said a 57-year-old man was acting in a violent manner while trying to push open the door to the business. His actions caused an employee to be in fear, so they called 9-1-1 for assistance. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. The second incident happened shortly after 9 a.m. yesterday when officers were alerted to a woman disturbing multiple businesses on Redwood Highway. Police said the 34-year-old woman's behavior was the reason for eight calls for service in a short period of time. She was reported to be threatening to kill people and yelling obscenities while causing public alarm. She also kicked and hit doors. The suspect was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct. The third incident took place at 11:36 a.m. yesterday when officers responded to a disturbance near the corner of NW 6th Street and Hillcrest Drive. Police said a 38-year-old man was throwing rocks at traffic and struck a vehicle on the passenger-side door. He was also said to be lunging at passing cars. The suspect was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct and his belongings were placed in safe-keeping. All three suspects were being held without bail and they were trespassed from the affected businesses.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a male transient for becoming a nuisance outside an eastside supermarket early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Tuesday around 9 a.m.. Police said a 35-year-old man was sitting at the entrance to WinCo and blocking the entire sidewalk with his property. They said he had food, trash and soiled bedding on the ground in front of the store. When asked to clean up his mess and leave, he began yelling profanities. The man had been warned for his behavior on Monday, but returned and continued to be annoyance so he was placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Offensive Littering. The trash was disposed of and his belongings were logged into evidence for safe-keeping.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested one camper on an outstanding warrant, cited several more for ordinance violations and evicted eight of them in Tuesday park patrols. At Baker Park, officers contacted a 30-year-old woman who was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Fentanyl Possession. She was lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer. Also at Baker Park, a female camper was cited for Illegal Camping and Misuse of Open Spaces, a man and woman were cited for Methamphetamine Possession, and a man was cited for Open Burning and Scattering Rubbish. All five were trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Morrison Centennial Park, a man and woman were cited for Illegal Camping and Misuse of Open Spaces while another woman was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Scattering Rubbish. All three were issued 30-day park exclusions. At Tussing Park, officers responded to a complaint about ordinance violations including tents not following buffer zone rules and garbage spread all around the facility. One man was cited for Illegal Camping. All other issues were unfounded.

 

The Oregon State Police has provided more information on the double-fatal crash that occurred this week on Riverbanks Road west of Grants Pass. In a Tuesday afternoon press release, OSP reported troopers and emergency crews were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 20 of State Route 260 on Monday at 6:05 p.m.. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Dodge Ram 2500 driven by 39-year-old David Scott Anderson of Wilderville left the roadway for an unknown reason, struck some trees and overturned. His passenger was identified as 28-year-old Shelby McKenzie Spliethof of Wilderville. According to Rural Metro Fire Department, the crash occurred in the sharp S-curves between Marcy Loop and Douglas Drive. Efforts to rapidly extricate and treat the two occupants were performed, but both Anderson and Spliethof were confirmed to be deceased at the scene. Riverbanks Road was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation. Traffic was detoured while the scene was active. OSP was assisted by Rural Metro, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, American Medical Response and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office as well as several citizens.