Local News

Pacificorp recently received the Emergency Response Award from Edison Electric Institute (EEI) in recognition of the company's response to the 2023 Smith River Complex fires that burned in Northern California and extreme Southern Oregon. During the 2023 event, Pacificorp enacted an emergency de-energization of roughly 14,000 customers in Crescent City and surrounding areas. Electricity was quickly restored to customers on a temporary basis using large generators to power substations that serve the communities, while the company continued to monitor the fires that burned through its transmission corridor. Power was eventually permanently restored to all customers after crews performed necessary repairs. Presented to EEI member companies twice a year, the Emergency Response Awards recognize recovery and assistance efforts of electric companies following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other natural events. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges during EEI's Board of Directors and CEO meeting held in conjunction with EEI's annual meeting and leadership forum. EEI President and CEO Dan Brouillette said Pacificorp's commitment to restoring power in a safe, efficient manner to the communities it serves following the Smith River Complex fires is admirable. He said the utility and its response team are extremely deserving of this well-earned recovery award.

 

The annual "Back to the 50s" celebration has rolled into Grants Pass this week, with all of the events taking place on Friday and Saturday. On Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., a pre-show car display is scheduled to happen at the Growers Market parking lot on F Street between 4th and 5th streets. There will be 50s music, kids games, hot rod games, prizes and lunch available for purchase. The Fabulous 50s Cruise-In Meet & Greet will take place on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Jimmy's Classic Drive-In at 515 NE E Street. On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., "The Fabulous 50s Charity Car Show" will occur at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. In addition to the beautiful cars on display, there will be a 50/50 raffle, 50s & 60s costume contests, kids games, hot rod games, merchandise booths and food vendors. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., there is a music concert featuring The Torpedoes in the Midway Park Gazebo. Co-sponsored by the Southern Oregon Corvette Association, there will be approximately 50 Corvettes on display. Event organizers -- The Rogue Valley Cruisers -- has awarded a total of more than $352,000 to local charities. Selected charities for the 2024 event include the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley, the Rogue Valley Humane Society and the Women's Crisis Support Team.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday made quick work of a weekly business session that contained no action items. The Board opened the meeting with Requests and Comments from Citizens, with several people taking the three-minute opportunity to address issues pertaining to Josephine County. Two Williams residents complained about the Board's decision not to approve the sale of the Pipe Fork property. Most of the $2.32 million that had been raised to facilitate the purchase of the 320-acre property was lost when the sale was not approved before the funding deadline. Two other residents expressed concerns about the pending removal of the 80-year-old Pomeroy Dam in the Illinois Valley. Commissioners Herman Baertschiger and John West told them they have been in contact with US Representative Cliff Bentz about the dam removal. They suggested contacting local lawmakers on the issue. In other comments, a "Mr. Fitch" complained about "unethical conduct" by the Sheriff's Office and said the Board will be questioned under a federal tort claim, a woman praised the Board for its efforts to have the swiped swine pens returned to the Fairgrounds and another woman expressed her support for local firefighters.

 

The Josephine County Commissioners on Wednesday appointed Andreas Blech as the replacement for Dan DeYoung on the Board, citing his recent involvement in various county committees. Eleven citizens applied for the vacant Commissioner position by Monday evening and the sitting commissioners narrowed the list to three for the interview process. Commissioners John West and Herman Baertschiger interviewed Blech, Katherine Means and Ronald Goodpasture before making their decision yesterday. The Board posed general questions to each applicant. Some of those questions involved longevity in the county, familiarity of all county areas and a review of past experience. The Board outlined many of the duties the new Commissioner must fulfill and the situations they may face as a public official. Blech was sworn in by Josephine County Judge Robert S. Bain on Wednesday afternoon as the third member of the Commission. He will serve out the remainder of DeYoung's term, which ends when the two newly-elected Commissioners are sworn-in in early January.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning appointed Andreas Blech as the replacement for Dan DeYoung on the Board, citing his recent involvement in various county committees. Eleven citizens applied for the vacant Commissioner position and the sitting commissioners narrowed the list to three. Commissioners John West and Herman Baertschiger interviewed Blech, Katherine Means and Ronald Goodpasture. The Board posed general questions to each applicant. Some of those questions involved longevity in the county, familiarity of all county areas and a review of past experience. The Commissioners outlined many of the duties the Commissioner must fulfill and the situations they may face as a public official. Blech will be sworn into office at 1 p.m. today. He will serve the remainder of DeYoung's term, which ends December 31st.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners made quick work of its weekly business session this morning that contained no action items. The Board opened the meeting with Requests and Comments from Citizens, with several people taking the three-minute opportunity to address issues pertaining to Josephine County. Two Williams residents complained about the Board's decision not to approve the sale of the Pipe Fork property. Most of the $2.32 million that had been raised to facilitate the purchase of the 320-acre property was lost when the sale was not approved before the funding deadline. Two other residents expressed concerns about the pending removal of the 80-year-old Pomeroy Dam in the Illinois Valley. Commissioners Herman Baerschiger and John West told them they have been in contact with US Representative Cliff Bentz about the dam removal. They suggested contacting local lawmakers on the issue. In other comments, a "Mr. Fitch" complained about "unethical conduct" by the Sheriff's Office and said the Board will be questioned under a federal tort claim, a woman praised the Board for its efforts to have the swiped swine pens returned to the Fairgrounds and another woman expressed her support for local firefighters. Under the Consent Calendar, the Board approved the plat map for the SSPX Elk Crossing Development.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man wanted by the Grants Pass Police Department yesterday after a welfare check on a woman residing at a home just east of the city. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the residence in the 2200-block of West Jones Creek Road on Tuesday during the noon hour. Deputies said they were requested to check on a woman who had a caregiver that was barred from contacting the woman due to a court order. On their way into the property, they contacted three people who were reportedly squatting on the land. One of those people was identified as 49-year-old man who was wanted by GPPD for probable cause of Felony 1st-Degree Theft and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle related to a recent criminal investigation. He was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for the mentioned charges plus Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a young man for probable cause of domestic violence after responding to a disturbance in the southeast part of the city late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 1400-block of Florence Lane on Tuesday at 4:11 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that an 18-year-old former roommate had returned to the house to get his belongings. The woman had been advised to lock the doors and windows in case he returned after a previous criminal incident in which he fled before the arrival of law enforcement. According to the report, the young man refused to leave the premises and became verbally aggressive with two adults and two children who were inside the house. Upon arrival, officers contacted the suspect and placed him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for probable cause of Domestic Strangulation and was being held without bail.

 

A violent confrontation between a man and woman in Cave Junction yesterday resulted in both being cited with additional charges being forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for further consideration. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident at a home in the 300-block of South Kerby Avenue on Tuesday around 1 p.m.. Deputies said a woman went to the man's house to question him about some photos he had taken when he ordered her off the property. They said he threw a cinder block at her car, damaging the windshield. When the woman got out of the car and started swinging her fists at the man, he raised a pipe wrench and forced her to back out of the driveway. The altercation ended with both parties wrestling on the ground as deputies arrived on scene and broke up the altercation. Both sustained facial injuries from the fight, but refused medical help. The man was cited to appear in court for Criminal Mischief and the woman was cited for Criminal Trespass. Charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Assault were referred to the DA's Office for review and potential prosecution.