Local News

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved two administrative action items and four annexations to the local library district during its weekly business session on Wednesday. The Board voted unanimously to approve an order that temporarily suspends the acceptance of applications for mineral exploration permits and mining leases. Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that the code addressing mineral exploration applications and mining leases on county-owned land needs to be updated and the order suspends these actions for up to one year. Board Chair Herman Baertschiger said the public will have the opportunity to comment on the amended code before it's adopted. The Commissioners also unanimously approved an order that updates policy and procedure for removing homeless encampments from county-owned property due to conditions that may compromise the health, safety and general welfare of the community. The new policy recognizes the social nature of the problem of homeless individuals camping on public property and ensures the most humane treatment for removal of those individuals from camping sites on public property.

 

For the first time this fall, residents in southwest Oregon and northwest California are being told to prepare for sub-freezing temperatures. The National Weather Service has posted a Freeze Warning for Josephine, Jackson, central Douglas and eastern Curry counties in Oregon along with Siskiyou County in California. It runs from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday. A Freeze Watch has been issued for late Friday night through Saturday morning Weather experts say sub-freezing temperatures as low as 20 degrees are possible throughout the region including the cities of Medford, Ashland, Cave Junction, Selma, Applegate and Shady Cove. Lows will be slightly warmer in other areas. Frost and freezing conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. It could also 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. Those who have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.

 

Nonprofit organizations in the Rogue Valley transform hopes into action every day by showing up to care for their neighbors and the environment. The Pacific Power Foundation is supporting this important work with a new round of grants to local organizations that are committed to fostering resilient cities, towns and natural areas in this region. The foundation is donating a total of $112,000 in grants across the three states it serves to underwrite a diverse range of programs and projects -- from affordable housing access, job training and rural economic development to ecosystem preservation, trail restoration and nature-based education. Five grants totaling $17,000 were given to Rogue Valley organizations. They include Community Works, Consumer Credit Counseling of Southern Oregon, Illinois Valley Wellness Resources, Rogue Valley Council of Governments and The Salvation Army in Medford.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved two administrative action items and four annexations to the local library district during its weekly business session this morning. The Board voted unanimously to approve an order that temporarily suspends the acceptance of applications for mineral exploration permits and mining leases. Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that the code addressing mineral exploration applications and mining leases on county-owned land needs to be updated and the order suspends these actions for up to one year. Board Chair Herman Baertschiger said the public will have the opportunity to comment on the amended code before it's adopted. He also said that one recent application will be addressed separately. The Commissioners also unanimously approved an order that updates policy and procedure for removing homeless encampments from county-owned property due to conditions that may compromise the health, safety and general welfare of the community. The new policy recognizes the social nature of the problem of homeless individuals camping on public property and ensures the most humane treatment for removal of those individuals from camping sites on public property. The Board opened the meeting with a public hearing on four annexations to the Josephine Community Library District.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man who injured an officer while refusing to comply with lawful orders yesterday following a fight in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers eventually arrested 41-year-old Matthew James Turner for the incident in the 400-block of NE F Street on Tuesday around 11:25 a.m.. Police said Turner caused public alarm when he engaged in a physical fight near Si Casa Express. They said he was highly intoxicated and displayed bizarre behavior. The suspect approached one officer and was slow to follow commands to stay back -- a Taser was displayed to gain compliance. He then charged at the officer who deployed his Taser and struck him with a probe, which had little effect. When other officers arrived to assist placing Turner into custody, he resisted and it required a use of force to once again gain compliance. The suspect was placed in two sets of handcuffs and leg shackles before being loaded into a patrol vehicle and transported to the Josephine County Jail. An officer was injured in the effort. Matthew Turner was lodged in jail on charges of Felony Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on two outstanding warrants and added another charge onto his criminal bill after an early morning trespassing complaint in the north part of the city. The Police Department reports officers responded to a trespassing call at AllCare PACE in the 2100-block of NW Vine Street on Tuesday around 6:50 a.m.. The caller reported a male subject sleeping in a Buick Regal in their parking lot Police said they contacted 59-year-old Clint Edward Robertson and discovered that he was wanted on a Medford Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Strangulation and a Grants Pass warrant for Contempt of Court. According to the report, Robertson was located in the vehicle with a female who had a valid no-contact order in place to protect her from him. Clint Robertson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants along with a new charge of Contempt of Court-Violation of No Contact Order. Both he and his female companion were trespassed from the premises.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on local and outside warrants at a north-city motel late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 39-year-old Michael Richard Ayriss at Motel 6 on NE 7th Street on Tuesday at 5:39 p.m.. Police said Ayriss was spotted by an officer going into Motel 6 and he was placed into custody on two Grants Pass warrants and two Coos County warrants. Charges against him included failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Felony Criminal Mischief and multiple counts of Driving While Revoked. Michael Ayriss was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. Clothing and other property belonging to the suspect were logged into evidence for safe-keeping. A small kitten in his possession was taken to the Animal Shelter.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Wolf Creek woman on a local felony warrant yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested 27-year-old Tesla Elouise Jinks at a home in the 400-block of Warner Road on Tuesday at 12:40 p.m.. Deputies said Jinks was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation. They said a criminal investigation led them to that location. Tesla Jinks was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the adult jail facility on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after she crashed her car into a parked travel trailer on the west side of the city late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to the incident in the 2100-block of Shane Way on Tuesday at about 5:20 p.m.. Police said 43-year-old Breana Lee Verser was driving a Subaru sedan when she crashed into a 2022 Keystone Hideout travel trailer that was parked on the street. Upon contact with Verser, they said she displayed indicators of impairment and admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages before driving. Verser performed poorly in field sobriety tests, but no further testing was done due to reported physical limitations. A search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that verified impairment. Breana Verser was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving. Her wrecked car was impounded. The amount of damage done to the travel trailer was not disclosed.