Women’s Crisis Support Team Receives $1,000 Neighborhood Grant
Women’s Crisis Support Team is honored to be selected as a recipient of a $1,000 Neighborhood Grant from The Starbucks Foundation. This grant recognizes the Crisis Support Team’s work providing lifesaving support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Josephine County and was awarded through the advocacy of a local Starbucks partner. Since 1977 the Women’s Crisis Support Team has served as Josephine County’s primary provider of domestic and sexual violence advocacy services, offering confidential support, safe housing, legal and medical advocacy, housing assistance, prevention education, and rural outreach. The Team partners with schools, law enforcement, and community organizations to build a safer, more connected community. The Neighborhood Grant will support their 24/7 crisis response and emergency shelter programs—ensuring survivors fleeing abuse have access to safe shelter, support, and hope. ...Read more

Weather Service Extends High Heat Advisory
The National Weather Service has extended the high heat warning through Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. High temperatures of 96 to 105 expected in the valleys of western Siskiyou County. Low temperatures will be mainly in the mid-60s.The areas most affected in California are Central Siskiyou County and Western Siskiyou County. In Oregon, Eastern Curry County and Josephine County and Jackson County. This includes the Rogue, Illinois, Scott, Shasta and Klamath River Valleys as well as the communities of Medford, Grants Pass, Ashland, Cave Junction, Yreka, Montague, and Happy Camp.An increased chance of heat related illness for those without access to cooling facilities. Warm overnight temperatures will limit relief from hot daytime temperatures. ...Read more

Firefighters Gain on Grizzly Complex in the Face of High Temps and Low Humidity
Oregon Department of Forestry Complex Incident Management Team 3 is in command of a group of lightning fires known as the Grizzly Complex that started July 7th. Monday crews were seeking out and cooling hot spots identified overnight from an infrared flight. Fires showed minimal fire activity along incident perimeters, allowing crews to focus on hazard tree removal and mopping up.Many of the fires have a large number of dead trees, known as hazard trees or snags, that require extra mitigation to reduce safety risks. Crews completed hazard tree removal along roads within the Neil Creek Road and Jim Me Peak fires, allowing easier access for water tenders.Jackson County Sheriff’s Office reduced the Level 2 – Be Set evacuation notices for zones JAC-542, JAC-543, JAC-546, JAC-558 and JAC-559 to a Level 1 – Be Ready notice. Zone JAC-536 remains at a Level 1. One lane of Interstate 5 is closed to protect firefighters between mile markers 8.5 and 10.5 on southbound lanes only. Check tripcheck.com for up-to-date traffic information.Temperatures are expected to remain at or near triple digits this week, which will naturally increase fire activity and risk. The ODF Southwest Oregon District continues suppression efforts on additional fires within the district. Resources remain available to respond to new fire starts within the complex area.For fire local information anytime, visit the district’s Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest or website, www.swofire.com. ...Read more