Local News

A motorist was injured yesterday when they crashed their vehicle into a tree off Redwood Highway in the Wilderville area. Engine Company 7504 from Rural Metro Fire Department's Wilderville Station was alerted to a crash in the 8,800-block of US Highway 199 at 1:55 p.m. Friday. Arriving units found a vehicle off the highway and into a tree. The unidentified driver was transported by American Medical Response to Three Rivers Medical Center with moderate injuries. No one else was hurt. Rural Metro officials said southbound traffic was backed up for miles due to the crash. There are no alternate routes in the area. By 4 p.m., traffic was beginning to move freely. The Oregon State Police was investigating the cause of the accident.

 

The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center answered more than 1,000 calls over the past week. In its Week in Review post on Facebook, the local 9-1-1 Dispatch Center reports that it received a total of 1,069 emergency calls. The bulk of the calls -- 982 -- were for the Grants Pass Police Department, with 286 calls recorded for American Medical Response. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue accounted for 83 calls, followed by Rural Metro Fire Department with 49. The Illinois Valley Fire District received 20 calls while the Oregon Department of Forestry received 6, the Williams Rural Fire Protection District received 4 and the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District got 3. Dispatchers also answered 383 inbound calls from their administrative lines and made 442 outbound calls from the 9-1-1 center.

 

Are you a young person thinking about a career in emergency services? If so, there are three free "camps" coming up that are designed to present an introductory look at what is involved. For high school seniors, Rogue Community College has two camps in March for firefighters and emergency medical technicians. To learn more and to apply by February 28th, visit "roguecc.edu/emergencyservices." For young ladies ages 16 to 20, the 2024 Rogue Girls Fire Camp will be held June 21st-23rd at Jackson County Fire District #3 in White City. To learn more, e-mail "roguegirlsfire@gmail.com" or call (541)-774-2320. Anyone wishing to speak directly with a first responder about working in the emergency services field can stop by their local Rural Metro Fire Department station and ask questions.

 

The Oregonian is reporting that Pacific Power is asking state regulators to approve a 17% rate increase for residential customers and businesses starting next year. The public-owned utility says it needs the roughly $304 million the rate hike would generate for new renewable energy projects and investments in transmission infrastructure that would allow it to add those sources to the grid. The money also would pay for reducing wildfire risks, including vegetation management in wildfire-prone areas, creating a catastrophic fire fund and paying for Pacific Power's rapidly growing wildfire insurance premiums, according to the utility. If the Oregon Public Utility Commission approves the increase, the average residential customer with typical energy usage would pay an additional $29.47 per month. It would be the third double-digit rate increase within three years – on top of the 12.9% increase for residential, business and industrial customers that took effect in January and the 21% rate hike for residential customers in 2023. Pacific Power serves about 618,000 customers in Oregon. In recent years, Pacific Power’s parent company, PacifiCorp, has been hit with multiple wildfire-related lawsuits and has been on the hook to pay related damages. The rate increase would not cover wildfire-related litigation costs but does seek to pay for preventive measures to address issues brought up in those lawsuits.

 

The Josephine Community Library District has announced that the Illinois Valley branch in Cave Junction will be closing for renovations early next month. The IV library branch on West Palmer Street will close on Sunday, March 3rd, and the last day of service before the closure will be Saturday, March 2nd. The library branch is expected to reopen to the public in mid- to late-fall of this year. During the library closure, temporary library services will be available at the Illinois Valley Senior Center at 520 East River Street. Services there will include a book drop open Mondays-Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and item pick-up service on Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.. To take advantage of the weekly pick-up service, patrons can use their library card account to place requests on books and other items through the online catalog at "josephinelibrary.org." Patrons will be notified when requested items are ready. For technical assistance, calls to the IV branch will be forwarded to library staff. The renovated library will include a meeting space with a maximum capacity of 80 people along with a teaching kitchen and dedicated ADA-accessible restroom, an early learning center, outdoor space for library programs and more.

 

Two deputies from the Josephine and Jackson County Sheriff's Offices were honored this week for their work in local schools. Josephine County Sheriff's Deputy Rob Konieczny and Jackson County Sheriff's Deputy Travis Cote were recognized by local districts on Thursday, which was "School Resource Officer Appreciation Day." The Three Rivers School District stated that Deputy Konieczny goes above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of its school community. Officials said "his dedication, compassion and commitment to fostering a positive and secure environment makes him an invaluable asset to the district." Deputy Cote works with more than 25 public and private schools in Jackson County much like a school resource officer. As a School Safety Deputy, he also provides important training for staff and students while helping to create safety plans tailored for each school. Thank you Deputy Konieczny and Deputy Cote for your hard work, vigilance, unwavering support, genuine connection to students, and tireless efforts to create a safe space for learning and growth!

 

A Grants Pass man was jailed for allegedly beating up his girlfriend at a home in the Redwood area last night. The Grants Pass Police Department reports 22-year-old Jareth Tate Wallis was arrested for the domestic violence incident in the 1400-block of Schutzwohl Lane on Thursday at 9:30 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined that Wallis caused physical injury to his 21-year-old girlfriend during a physical altercation. They said the suspect impeded the breathing of the victim by choking her. This placed her in fear of serious injury while he kicked and punched her. A witness said the victim also had bite marks. According to the report, Wallis was highly impaired by alcohol during the incident. Jareth Wallis was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Domestic 4th-Degree Assault, Domestic Strangulation and Domestic Menacing. He was being held without bail. The victim -- who refused medical treatment -- was provided with information about the Women's Crisis Support Team.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on two outstanding warrants yesterday following an encounter with a BLM deputy on public land. The Sheriff's Office reports the deputy contacted 45-year-old Jonathan Raymond Pool on BLM land in an unspecified location of the county at 3:50 p.m. Thursday. According to the report, Pool was one of three occupants in a Ford F-150 pickup. Pool was placed into custody when the deputy discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County Sheriff's Office warrant for Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Attempting to Elude Police. He was also wanted on a Medford warrant for Probation Violation related to Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine. Jonathan Pool was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

An Illinois Valley man was arrested on two local warrants yesterday after a law enforcement contact in downtown Cave Junction. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a Chevrolet Equinox driven by 35-year-old Jason Adam Post in the 100-block of South Redwood Highway on Thursday at 10:32 a.m.. Deputies said they stopped Post for an improper display of registration tags when they discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant carrying an indictment for two counts of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was also wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for two counts of DUII. Jason Post was transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail on the warrants. According to the report, a friend was contacted to pick up the car and two dogs.