Local News

The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry got some help in knocking down a small grass fire near O'Brien late yesterday. On Wednesday at 4:54 p.m., IVFD and ODF crews were dispatched to the reported fire on Redwood Highway at Lone Mountain Road. IVFD officials said the fire was brought under control within a few minutes of their arrival. They said several bystanders offered assistance with hoses in putting out the flames. Officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

The Jackson County Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit is investigating a Medford Police Department officer-involved shooting that happened Independence Day at Hawthorne Park. As part of the investigation, detectives with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police arrived on scene shortly after the Friday morning incident. The Sheriff's Office has taken the lead in the investigation. It is standard protocol for an outside agency to take the lead in officer-involved shooting investigations. At about 8 a.m. on July 4th, an MPD officer encountered a suspect with a felony warrant along the Bear Creek Greenway in the city park. The suspect -- 55-year-old Salvador Alex Sanchez, a Medford area transient -- was wanted for two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon related to an incident that occurred earlier this year. The officer called for backup when Sanchez become uncooperative and armed himself with a large knife. Sanchez ignored several requests to drop the knife and advanced on officers who fired their handguns, striking the suspect. Officers quickly provided aid to Sanchez and a Mercy Flights ambulance transported him to a local hospital where he remains in custody in the intensive care unit. The Jackson County District Attorney's Office this week filed charges against Sanchez for Attempted 1st-Degree Assault, two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Resisting Arrest and Attempted Escape. A Grand Jury is scheduled to consider those charges and to decide whether the use of deadly force against him was justified under Oregon law. The two MPD officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, pending the Grand Jury determination.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for violating his probation after he started an altercation with another patient at a residential treatment center. The Police Department reports officers arrested 49-year-old Brent Lee Gordon for the incident at the OnTrack Center on Rogue River Highway on Tuesday night. Police said Gordon had been drinking when he started a verbal altercation with another resident in the common area. They said the other resident escalated the situation by throwing Gordon to the ground and slamming his arm in a door. After the tussle concluded, both parties when back to their rooms. Gordon then emerged from his room with a camping hatchet and paced the kitchen area until he got bored and returned to his quarters. He did not threaten anyone with the hatchet and did not wish to pursue charges against his assailant, but still had to answer some questions from his corrections officer. The officer was not happy to hear that Gordon had been drinking and possessing a weapon, so his client was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a Josephine County Community Corrections client for suspicious activity outside a downtown pawn shop. The Police Department reports officers arrested 36-year-old Justin Harley Bennett for the incident outside The Jewelry Center on SW 6th Street late Tuesday night. Police said the manager of the pawn shop called 9-1-1 after a security company reported alarm hits at the business. The manager said it appeared a male subject was trying to get into the building. Surveillance video showed him near a window. An investigation determined that Bennett was observed on video kicking the front door and hitting the windows. Officers said there was no damage at the scene and entry was not gained, but the man's corrections officer wanted him detained. Bennett was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a 2022 conviction for an unspecified crime. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for vandalizing her neighbor's vehicle and then attempting to avoid being placed into custody. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a reported vandalism incident in the 1600-block of Medart Lane around midday Tuesday. Police said they contacted 63-year-old Peri Hana Smith-Day after her neighbor reported that Smith-Day smeared pizza and cigarette butts all over their Buick Enclave before writing on the rear window with a green substance. The message stated: "Ha, no violation, wasting your time." Upon contact, Smith-Day admitting to vandalizing her neighbor's vehicle. She was advised that she was under arrest, but pulled away and tried to avoid apprehension. Smith-Day was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held without bail. According to the report, a male companion of the suspect complained to officers that he felt his friend was being arrested "unjustly."

 

Applications are being accepted for one position on the Grants Pass Urban Area Planning Commission. This is a four-year appointment. All appointments to the UAPC are required to have their principal residence within the city limits or urban growth boundary. The purpose of the UAPC is to review and render a decision on all Type 3 land use applications including zone changes, subdivisions, planned unit developments and major variances as well as to function as an appellate body on appeals from Type 1 and Type 2 decisions of City staff. The UAPC also reviews and recommends to the City Council actions on all Type 4 land use requests including comprehensive plan amendments and development code text amendments. In accordance with the growth management philosophies of the governing boards, the commission will investigate, review, analyze and recommend necessary changes in growth management policies or physical capacities to meet the needs for lands within the urban growth boundary. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 18th.

 

The American Red Cross urges all donors to give blood or platelets now to keep the blood supply strong this summer. Type 0 blood products are most needed on hospital shelves -- especially in the face of summer challenges that can quickly cause blood and platelet reserves to drop. In addition to summer fun and holidays, severe summer weather can have a sudden impact on the ability to collect blood and platelets. Scheduling and keeping donation appointments are crucial this month to ensure blood products are constantly available in the weeks to come for all patients including those in trauma situations that may require lifesaving transfusions. All blood types are needed and donors who don't know their blood type can learn it after donating. Book a time to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting "RedCrossBlood.org" or by calling 1-(800)-RED-CROSS.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry is continuing aggressive suppression action across all fires in Jackson and Josephine counties, the majority of which were caused by lightning strikes during Monday evening thunderstorms. As of Wednesday night, the fire count remained at 72 between the two counties, with numerous fires already caught and extinguished at small sizes. The remaining fires are staffed with resources and progress continues to be made across the board despite hot and windy conditions. ODF's Complex Incident Management Team 3 is taking command of the larger fire incidents this morning, freeing up local resources to be ready for potential new fire starts. The Neil Creek Road Fire located south of Ashland and west of Interstate 5 is still estimated to be 250 acres. With help of additional retardant drops yesterday, crews have been able to solidify line around 50% of the fire's perimeter. The Deming Gulch Fire located northeast of Buncom is currently estimated to be 250 acres while the Heppsie Mountain Fire south of Highway 140 near Lake Creek remains 40 acres in size. The nearby Poole Hill Fire has been stopped at 11.5 acres. The North Fork Deer Creek Fire located in the hills east of Selma is 42 acres, the Jim Me Peak Fire south of Applegate is estimated to be 70 acres and the Palmer Peak Fire near Applegate was last reported to be 90 acres.

 

Josephine County is eligible to apply for a 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from Business Oregon. Community Development Block Grant funds come from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grants can be used for public facilities and housing improvements, primarily for persons with low and moderate incomes. Approximately $11.5 million will be awarded to Oregon non-metropolitan cities and counties this year. The maximum grant that a city or county can receive for a housing rehabilitation grant is $500,000. Josephine County is preparing an application for a 2025 Community Development Block Grant to fund a housing rehabilitation project that will serve areas outside the incorporated area of Grants Pass. It is estimated that the proposed project will benefit at least 20 low- and/or moderate-income households. A public hearing will be held by the Board of Commissioners at 10 a.m. on July 31st at the Anne G. Basker Auditorium. The purpose of the hearing is for the Board to obtain citizen views and to respond to questions and comments about community development and housing needs.