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Oregon Health Authority Urging People 65 and Older to Get Second COVID-19 Vaccination

Oregonians 65 and older can now get an additional dose of the 2023-24 updated COVID-19 vaccine following a federal announcement that opened eligibility to older adults who are most at risk for severe outcomes of the virus. Paul Cieslak, MD, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at the Oregon Health Authority, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's February 28th approval of a second dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine released last fall can provide increased protection for older adults. Older adults are eligible to get a second COVID-19 vaccine dose if it's been at least four months since they received their first dose of the 2023-24 vaccine. People can get the vaccines by contacting their health plan, health care provider, county public health clinic, federally qualified health center or pharmacy. Because the COVID-19 vaccine -- like the seasonal influenza vaccine -- is available on the commercial pharmaceutical market, health care and vaccine providers order it directly from vaccine manufacturers. The vaccines are available from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax, and studies show all are safe and effective at protecting against serious illness from COVID-19. While the state has seen a steady decline in COVID-19-related hospitalizations and percentage of positive tests since late December, OHA officials say the virus is still circulating briskly in Oregon communities.

Posted on 3/8/24 6:25AM by Sam Marsh

Total Payroll Employment in Jackson County Dropped by 2,190 Jobs in First Month of 2024

Total payroll employment in Jackson County fell by 2,190 jobs in January, with the largest declines estimated in retail trade and leisure & hospitality. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 100,232 people working in Jackson County in January for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 4.3%, which was up from 4.1% in December. In addition to retail trade and leisure & hospitality, job losses over the month were also posted in construction; private education & health services; transportation, warehousing & utilities; and professional & business services. However, government employment rose by 80 jobs in January, with an increase of 70 state government and 20 local government jobs. Federal government jobs dropped by 10. Over the past year, payroll employment in Jackson County lost 250 jobs, a decrease of 0.3%. Jackson County employment is 1,190 jobs below the total reached in January 2020, prior to the pandemic. Since January 2023, industries adding jobs included private education & health services and retail trade. Industries showing over-the-year losses were professional & business services, leisure & hospitality, financial activities, transportation, warehousing & utilities, and other services.

Posted on 3/8/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

City of Grants Pass Announces Brand New Playground Coming to Reinhart Volunteer Park

A brand new playground is coming to Reinhart Volunteer Park in Grants Pass. The City of Grants Pass has announced that on March 11th, the large play structure area -- including the Key Shelter -- will be closed and fenced off during removal of the current playground and construction of new equipment at the All Sports Park. Depending on the weather, city park officials said construction is expected to be finished by the end of April. Money for this project comes entirely from Grants Pass Tourism Lodging Tax revenue plus a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department's Land, Water and Conservation Fund. Reinhart Volunteer Park has become the city's most popular park destination and Grants Pass officials are excited to replace the current 30-year-old play structure that was paid for and installed by the Grants Pass Active Club with a new two-structure system chosen as the favorite option from a recent community survey. There will be separate play structures for children 5-12 years old called "Big Kids" and for children 2-5 years old called "Tot Lot." The city worked with the state and received additional grant funding to utilize rubber tile for the playground surfacing.

Posted on 3/8/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

Illinois Valley Fire District Reports Fatal Plane Crash Occurred Today near CJ

The Illinois Valley Fire District is reporting that a fatal plane crash happened today near Cave Junction. At 11:25 this morning, IVFD, American Medical Response, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Police responded to the reported plane crash at or near the Illinois Valley Airport. IV Airport personnel also responded. Arriving units found an ultralight aircraft had crashed and there was one fatality. No other information was available on the incident this afternoon. The Sheriff's Office along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be conducting the investigation.

Posted on 3/7/24 1:23PM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Woman for Using Rock to Break Vehicle Window at Hospital

Grants Pass Police jailed a female transient last night for using a rock to break a window and then enter a parked vehicle at Three Rivers Medical Center. The Police Department reports officers arrested 30-year-old Malae Ryean Kimack in the 700-block of Union Avenue near the hospital on Wednesday at about 8 p.m.. Police said Kimack used a rock to shatter the driver-side window of a vehicle in the hospital parking lot and then entered the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle subsequently found her in the driver seat and used his cell phone to record her before she left and walked toward the hospital. After Kimack was contacted by police, she admitted to shattering the window and entering the vehicle. She told officers she believed the vehicle belonged to a friend. Malae Kimack was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and Felony Parole Violation. Her corrections officer requested she be held on a detainer.

Posted on 3/7/24 10:48AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Police Collared 2 Corrections Clients on Outstanding Warrants

Grants Pass Police arrested two Josephine County Community Corrections clients on outstanding warrants yesterday. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred on Wednesday at 9:20 a.m. when officers arrested 59-year-old Clint Edward Robertson at the office on NW 4th Street. Police said Robertson was visiting his corrections officer and was unaware he was about to be placed into custody on a Medford Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Assault. He was on probation for a Contempt of Court arrest that occurred on January 23rd and was lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer. The second incident happened on Wednesday around noon when officers arrested 43-year-old Elijah Samuel Greene at the Corrections Office. Police said Greene was also visiting his corrections officer and unaware that he was about to be placed into custody on a Jackson County Warrant for Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances. He was detained and then cited to appear in Jackson County Circuit Court on March 28th.

Posted on 3/7/24 10:46AM by Sam Marsh

GP Man Snared on Warrants after He Refused to Leave Super 8 Motel Room

A Grants Pass man was arrested on two local warrants after he refused to vacate his north-city motel room yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a trespassing complaint at the Super 8 Motel on NE 7th Street on Wednesday shortly after 1 p.m.. Police said a motel employee called 9-1-1 to report that it was past check-out time and 71-year-old Russell DeWitt Coe was refusing to leave his room. They said Coe was staying at the motel because he had been legally evicted from his residence at the Royal Trailer Park on Lewis Avenue. Responding officers contacted Coe and discovered that he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for Criminal Trespass related to the trailer park eviction. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and his belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

Posted on 3/7/24 10:44AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Motorist for DUII after She Drove Wrong Way on Parkway

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving following a late night traffic stop on the east side of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a vehicle driven by 52-year-old Gaylene White on the Grants Pass Parkway near NE Agness Avenue on Wednesday at 11:53 p.m.. Police said they stopped White after observing her driving west in the eastbound lanes of the Parkway. Upon contact, they said she displayed signs of impairment. She was placed into custody after performing poorly in field sobriety tests. White was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she provided a breath sample that was positive for alcohol. She was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Her vehicle was picked up by a friend.

Posted on 3/7/24 10:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Drug Possession after Suspicious Activity Call

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for drug possession early yesterday after he and a friend were reported to be passed out in a parked vehicle in the northwest part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a report of suspicious activity in the 1800-block of NW Hawthorne Avenue near Siskiyou Community Health Center on Wednesday around 9:25 a.m.. Police said an employee of the health center reported two men passed out inside a Ford Focus hatchback. The caller advised they saw a flame and believed the men were doing drugs. Responding officers contacted Jordan Haas in the passenger seat with tinfoil and a smoking device in his hands. Haas admitted he had been smoking fentanyl, but the driver -- identified as "Alan Mitchell" -- denied any drug use. Haas was charged with Possession of Fentanyl before being cited and released from custody. Mitchell's corrections officer was contacted and they ordered their client to immediately report to the office.

Posted on 3/7/24 10:42AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Camper from Tussing Park for Violating 2 City Ordinances

Grants Pass Police evicted a camper from a city park for committing two ordinance violations early yesterday. During a patrol check at Tussing Park, officers cited Donald Strunk for Misuse of Park Open Spaces and Buffer Zone Violation. He was trespassed from the park for 30 days. Officers posted four other campsites for Illegal Camping at Tussing Park and sent an e-mail to the United Community Action Network (UCAN).

Posted on 3/7/24 10:40AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Reports Cell Phone Found by ODOT Crew on US Highway 199 in Selma

The Oregon State Police reports a cell phone was found yesterday on Redwood Highway in Selma. According to OSP, the Oregon Department of Transportation located the iPhone on US Highway 199 near Lakeshore Drive on Wednesday. The lost phone was picked up from ODOT by state troopers who transported the device to OSP's Grants Pass Office for safekeeping. The owner of the phone can reclaim it by stopping by the OSP Office on NE 7th Street.

Posted on 3/7/24 10:38AM by Sam Marsh

Cave Junction Motorist Injured after Crashing Car into Pickup on Caves Highway

A Cave Junction woman was injured early yesterday when she crashed her car into another vehicle on Caves Highway. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle collision on State Route 46 on Wednesday at 12:08 a.m.. Troopers said evidence at the scene indicates a Kia Sol driven by 70-year-old Martha McNeel Bingham was traveling east and trying to navigate a corner when she lost control of the car and hit a previously wrecked Chevrolet pickup. They said the Kia rolled over on impact and went down a 25-foot embankment. According to OSP, McNeel was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with what appeared to be minor injuries. Jerry's Towing retrieved both vehicles and hauled them to Cave Junction.

Posted on 3/7/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

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