Local News

The Oregon State Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash near milepost 8 on the Redwood Highway Tuesday morning about 6:30 that resulted in road blockage and serious injuries. All occupants were transported to medical centers for treatment. The at-fault driver and passenger received the greatest injuries with both taken into surgery and were still being treated in the intensive care unit Wednesday morning. The other driver had minimal injuries. Few other details were available other than one vehicle was a Ford Focus and one was a GMC Pickup. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

 

A convicted felon is in the Josephine County Jail after allegedly harassing a female roommate after consuming alcohol. Sheriff’s dispatchers received a call Tuesday afternoon at 12:58 from a caller stating she is renting a room in a home and the landlord is out of town, but his son, who was just released from prison, is intoxicated and harassing her. The son could be heard yelling in the background as the 84-year-old woman, who uses a walker, had retreated to her room for protection. Josephine County Deputies contacted the suspect, now identified as David Mitchell McFarland, 46, and notified his parole officer. The P.O. placed a detainer on McFarland, who was then transported to the county jail and lodged on a post-prison sanction. He remained in custody Wednesday morning.

 

Elderly woman jailed for assault following drug and alcohol fueled disturbance at a residence in the 2900 block of Merlin Road. Josephine County Deputies responded Tuesday morning just before 11 a.m. to a caller saying a woman, who was alleged to be under the influence of alcohol and meth, was swinging a rolling pin at him. Dispatchers heard the woman screaming in the background. The caller stated the woman was blocking him from returning to his trailer. The victim, who is on blood thinners, was using his forearms to block the blows from the rolling pin and showed significant bruising to his arms along with cuts on his right bicep and both knees where he had been kicked. The suspect, 73-year-old Sherryl Marie Parliament, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and unlawful use of a weapon. She was transported and lodged in the County Jail and remained in custody Wednesday mor.

 

A happy ending was the result following three emergency responding agencies mobilized Tuesday afternoon at 3:27 to find a missing rafter on the Rogue River. Rescue crews from Rural Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire and AMR-Josephine County were dispatched to the Winterbottom Riffle just above Chinook Park, to assist the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with locating a missing rafter. Initial reports indicated a male and female had dumped out of their individual rafts at the riffle and only needed assistance from one bank to the other. However, upon the deputy's arrival they determined the male was still missing. It was also unclear if the missing male was wearing a life jacket. Water rescue crews, including the rescue boat from GP Fire's Parkway Station, searched the water and banks from Baker Park to above Chinook Park. An authorized drone pilot from Josephine County Search & Rescue also assisted. After the search was called off, deputies clearing the scene located the missing male on a nearby road and confirmed there were no injuries. Even though this incident had a positive outcome, it provides another opportunity for First Responders to reiterate to river-users that properly worn life jackets are very valuable when rafts unexpectedly overturn.

 

The Grants Pass City Council is poised to act tonight on a resolution authorizing the City’s Floodplain Manager to execute the FEMA-required pre-implementation compliance measures on a permit basis.
The Federal program enables property owners in participating communities to purchase flood insurance while requiring local governments to enforce minimum floodplain requirements.The City has approximately 1.088 properties that would be subject to the regulations if property owners choose to develop or redevelop. On average, the City’s planning department reviews and issues about three floodplain permits annually. Councilors have three different FEMA options to choose from. The Council will also consider annexing a Roguelea Lane parcel into the City Limits. The City Council’s business session is Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at 101 Northwest 6th Street.

 

The City of Grants Pass will break ground on the replacement water treatment plant at 755 SE J Street at 10 AM tomorrow. Parking at the site will be limited. Once the parking area is full, people will need to park on the street. The distance from the area of limited parking to where the groundbreaking will take place is approximately 100 yards. The site is currently dirt and gravel; closed-toed footwear is required.
The remarks and ceremonial first shovel turn should last no longer than 30 minutes. Touring the site afterwards should take no longer than 90 minutes. The site will close to visitors at 12 P

 

Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives served a search warrant the morning of Thursday, July 10, at a black-market cannabis grow on a farm in rural Eagle Point. During the execution of the warrant in the 15200 block of Highway 62, detectives seized approximately 988 illegal marijuana plants, 22 lbs. of processed cannabis, and $3000 cash. One suspect was detained on scene and charges of felony marijuana manufacture and possession are being referred to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office..There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling, or processing at this location. IMET was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents.Jackson County Code Enforcement responded to the scene and issued a total of $15,000 in fines to the landowner. The fines were issued for failure to obtain land use approval for marijuana production, utilizing RV’s for dwelling purposes within a marijuana grow site, solid waste, an unpermitted second dwelling, and multiple unsafe and non-permitted electrical, mechanical, plumbing and structural installations.

Oregon Water Resources Department Enforcement section Watermasters also responded to investigate the property’s water usage. Watermasters issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the responsible parties for the unlawful use and appropriation of groundwater for the cultivation of an unpermitted crop. This type of water violation is subject to both civil and criminal penalties.

Investigations are open and ongoi

 

All Fires in the Grizzly Complex are 100% lined and in various stages of mop up. Crews are focusing on removing snags, strengthening lines and extinguishing hot spots along fire perimeters. Acreage on individual fires was updated due to an infrared flight last night giving more accurate area information.
Despite high temperatures and gusty conditions Tuesday, crews held the fires within their current footprints and increased mop-up operations and total containment within the complex.Late last night, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Complex Incident Management Team 3 (CIMT 3) quickly redeployed one CAL FIRE strike team of firefighters to assist at the rapidly growing Hagelstein Fire, 14 miles north of Klamath Falls near Highway 97.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.Level 1 – Be Ready evacuation notices remain in place for zones JAC-542, JAC-558, and Zone JAC-536. 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.For fire local information anytime, visit the district’s Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest or website, www.swofire.com.

 

A Grants Pass Police officer contacted 38-year-old Vanessa Kay Schutt at 8:35 a.m. Monday morning in the 1100 block of Northeast D Street, knowing there was a valid warrant for her arrest. Her identity was confirmed along with the warrant so she was placed under arrest and transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged with bail set at $25,000. She is currently facing three charges: criminal trespass, disorderly conduct II and possession of methamphetamine. It is her fourth arrest since early June for the same offenses plus Burglary I-residence and theft III. She remained in custody Tuesday morning.