Local News

Grants Pass Police apprehended a local fugitive in the downtown area early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 25-year-old Christian Nicholas Peckham at the corner of SE 6th and H streets on Friday at 12:48 a.m.. Police said they were on patrol in the downtown area when they spotted Peckham and knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for 2nd-Degree Burglary. Christian Peckham was placed into custody without incident and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

As the summer threat of fire to homes has diminished, the threat of fire from within increases. Flue fires are one of the leading causes of house fires during the colder months. Failure to clean the chimney of creosote buildup can lead to an ignition inside the flue. A flue fire isn't necessarily a problem, but heat or embers escaping through cracks or separations in the mortar, liner or pipe can ignite the walls, attic or roof. In the event a flue fire occurs at your home, call 9-1-1. Firefighters have special equipment for suppressing flue fires and checking for extension of flames into the structure. Fire that spreads into the structure can becoming damaging very fast. The sooner firefighters arrive, the less damage there could be. While you wait for their arrival, 9-1-1 will provide some basic instructions such as placing water-soaked newspaper inside the woodstove or fireplace. Wet paper will produce steam that will begin the cooling process up inside the flue. Since many house fires start in the middle of the night while you sleep, make sure that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are adequately placed and working. Installing a "monitored" fire alarm system is even better and it can alert firefighters when you are not home. Early detection is the key to keeping fires small. Prevent the potential of a house fire by having your chimney cleaned and inspected by a licensed chimney sweep and by burning dry, seasoned hardwood to reduce creosote buildup. Have someone get into your attic and look at the spacing of the flue from wooden roof and truss components, insulation and personal storage.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department wants everyone to have a safe and fun Halloween this year -- and the company has provided some basic tips and reminders to help make it that way. Use caution with any fire such as candles and bonfires. Costumes and accessories should be fire-resistant. Wear good-fitting costumes and shoes to avoid trips and falls. Children should always be accompanied by an adult. Remember, there is safety in numbers. Trick or Treat only in familiar, well-lit areas. Never enter a stranger's home. You may want to consider participating in a community event, such as "Trunk or Treat" or downtown business events. After sunset, carry a flashlight or headlamp to help see and be seen. Use reflective tape on costumes and bags for better nighttime visibility. Glow sticks make great accessories. Guard against distractions like cell phone use while walking in the dark with a costume on. Follow all pedestrian and traffic safety rules. Getting hit by a vehicle is one of the leading causing of injury on Halloween. Motorists should slow down and watch for trick-or-treaters, especially at night. Do not eat any treats until they are inspected. Avoid homemade treats and stick with those that are commercially-packaged. Adults consuming adult beverages should celebrate responsibly, especially if they are chaperoning children.

 

US Cellular recently announced the winners of its third annual Hispanic Heritage Art Contest with the Boys & Girls Club of the Rogue Valley. Winners of the art contest were celebrated in a ceremony at the local club. Boys & Girls Club members were encouraged to create original pieces of artwork in recognition of influential STEM icons including historical figures, world leaders, scientists and educators. From September 15th until September 28th, the public was able to participate in online voting to determine the winners. First place and $250 went to Lily H.. Second place and $150 went to Sonja M.. Third place and $100 went to Jayden F.. Greg Roe, Executive Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley, said this has become one of the most anticipated activities of the year. He said it's such an incredible opportunity for learning while being inspired and creative at the same time. He added they are grateful to US Cellular for their continued support.

 

A high-dollar burglary investigation has led to the arrest of four suspects after more than $300,000 in cash, gold coins and guns were stolen from a residence in rural Central Point last month. During the investigation, detectives from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office searched three Medford homes after tracking sales of the rare gold coins and guns. While searching the residences, detectives discovered gold coins and guns tying the suspects to the crime as well additional firearms possessed by convicted felons and more than 140 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. Detectives began their investigation on August 22nd after deputies took a burglary report in the 4800-block of Old Stage Road. During the burglary, thieves stole $108,000 in cash along with 95 gold coins worth approximately $180,000. The suspects also took seven firearms including a rare select-fire, fully-automatic pistol. Upon further investigation, multiple suspects were discovered with rare gold coins including South African Kruggerands, American Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs in their possession. The arrestees were identified as 53-year-old Michael Jason, 51-year-old Jonathan Kinsella, 43-year-old Michelle Kinsella and 68-year-old Curtis Hollins -- all of Medford. They were lodged at the Jackson County Jail on numerous charges. The case will be prosecuted by the Jackson County District Attorney's Office.

 

Rogue Community College has received a state grant award to support expansion of its nursing program. In September, the Oregon Higher Education Coordination Commission awarded RCC a Workforce Ready: Innovation in Workforce Program of nearly $970,000. The funds will support the expansion of RCC's nursing program and will help meet the demand for registered nurses (RNs), improve nursing education and strengthen the healthcare workforce. Funds will be distributed over three years to RCC and its project partners -- Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center and Providence Medford Medical Center. According to a recent study by Oregon Longitudinal Data Collaborative, there is a significant unmet demand for registered nurses across the state. Existing training programs are unable to produce enough graduates to meet the demand, with only 23% of qualified applicants admitted to RN programs. The shortage of RNs is also prevalent locally, as evidenced by Asante that has 347 vacant RN positions across its two-county healthcare system. Providence Medford Medical Center has approximately 40 open RN positions.

 

The National Weather Service has posted another Freeze Warning for southwest Oregon and northwest California. The latest Freeze Warning for Josephine, Jackson, central Douglas, eastern Curry and Siskiyou counties runs from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday. A Freeze Warning in the region for this morning ends at 9 a.m.. Temperatures as low as 25 degrees were expected this morning while temperatures tomorrow morning could fall to as low as 24 degrees in southwest Oregon and as low as 18 degrees in Siskiyou County. Frost and sub-freezing conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation, and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes, they should be wrapped, drained or allowed to drip slowly. Residents with in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.

 

A Grants Pass teenager is facing a felony assault charge after crashing a vehicle into a traffic control device and injuring his passenger while under the influence of an inhalant in the Redwood area last night. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers and emergency personnel were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck at the intersection of Redwood Avenue and Willow Lane on Thursday at 10:08 p.m.. Police said 18-year-old Kaiden O'Duane was driving a Mazda sedan westbound on Redwood Avenue approaching the Willow Lane intersection when he collided with a pole supporting the overhead traffic light. Found inside the vehicle was a canister of nitrous oxide, an inhalant which the driver reportedly used prior to the crash. According to the report, O'Duane and his unidentified passenger were extricated from the wreckage and transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for evaluation. The passenger was then transferred to Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford for treatment of moderate injuries. O'Duane displayed symptoms of impairment related to the collision and a search warrant was obtained for a legal blood draw. He was subsequently charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Felony 3rd-Degree Assault. Since he was hurt in the crash, he was cited and released to the care of hospital staff. The heavily damaged Mazda was towed to the impound yard. City street crews were notified about minor damage to the traffic light pole.

 

Grants Pass Police assisted the Oregon State Police in arresting an impaired driver in the Redwood area yesterday. According to the Police Department, state troopers in an unmarked patrol car pulled over a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Chandler Lee Menke for a traffic violation on Redwood Avenue near Annabelle Lane around 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Police said Menke displayed numerous indicators of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. They said he refused to provide a breath sample, so a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented heavy impairment. After providing a breath sample that was nearly three times the legal driving limit, Chandler Menke was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. An empty bottle of vodka was found inside his vehicle, which was impounded.