KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

RCC Dental Assistant Cohort Program Accepting Applications until July 12th

The Dental Assistant program at Rogue Community College is accepting applications until this Friday for the 2024 cohort. The deadline is July 12th. The four-term certification program prepares students to meet the requirements to become Expanded Functions Dental Assistants (EFDA). Successful completion of the program equips students for job entry with state and national certification in dental radiology, and basic and expanded function dental assisting. The curriculum is based in general dentistry. Students receive training in four-handed chair-side assisting techniques to work with general dentists during all phases of patient examination and treatment. For more information on the RCC Dental Assistant program, e-mail Carmen Mons at "cmons@roguecc.edu."

Posted on 7/8/24 6:00AM by Sam Marsh

ODF: Firefighters Making Excellent Progress on Salt Creek Fire Burning off Highway 140

Firefighters assigned to the Salt Creek Fire located approximately 10 miles east of Eagle Point made significant progress last night, lining 40% of the largest wildfire in southwest Oregon so far this year. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports the wildfire is burning on steep ground along Salt Creek Road and is currently estimated to be 1,500 acres. It was first reported just after 4 p.m. Sunday. The cause is under investigation. ODF Incident Management Team 1 has been briefed and will shadow current resources today before taking command of the wildfire tonight. This will bring in additional resources and allow local districts to be ready for additional fire starts. Fire activity naturally decreased last night when the sun went down and extremely hot temperatures dropped. With this advantage, resources were able to put in a mix of bulldozer and hand lines constructed along the entire northern portion of the blaze. The eastern and southeastern flanks remain largely unlined and they are the focus of the day shift today. A total of 321 personnel are assigned to the Salt Creek Fire today including 12 20-person hand crews backed by nine engines, 10 water tenders, seven bulldozers and six tree-fallers. Six helicopters, two large air tankers and one very large air tanker made numerous retardant drops last night to help box in the wildfire. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Jackson County Emergency Management have issued Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notices for Zones JAC-316, JAC-317, JAC-319 and JAC-321. Salt Creek Road and Wasson Canyon Road are closed at Highway 140, and Double Day Road is closed off Butte Falls Highway. Highway 140 and Butte Falls Highway remain open at this time.

Posted on 7/8/24 5:59AM by Sam Marsh

GP Smashes Previous High Temp Records as Excessive Heat Warning Continues

Grants Pass smashed three previous high temperature records over the weekend as the Excessive Heat Warning has been extended at least one more day. Grants Pass hit 110 degrees on Friday, 113 degrees on Saturday and 108 degrees on Sunday, with all surpassing previous high temperature records for July 5th, 6th and 7th of 106. It's highly likely that more high temperature records will be broken. The National Weather Service has extended the Excessive Heat Warning through Tuesday night. Dangerously hot conditions will continue, with high temperatures between 105 and 115 degrees. The daytime thermometer is not expected to fall below the century mark until Wednesday or Thursday. Weather experts continue to encourage local residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors -- especially the elderly. Those working outside should take extra care and any strenuous outdoor activities should be done in the morning or evening. The City of Grants Pass has announced that the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) will operate a Cooling Center at least two more days due to the extended heatwave. The Cooling Center at 218 Redwood Highway next to Bi-Mart will be open both today and tomorrow from 2 to 8 p.m..

Posted on 7/8/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh

GP Emergency Communications Center Received Over 1,200 Calls before July 4th

The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded more than 1,200 emergency calls for local first responders even before record-setting summer heat on July 4th. According to the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center's weekly post on Facebook, dispatchers received a total of 1,218 emergency calls between June 27th and July 3rd. The Grants Pass Police Department led the way with 969 calls followed by American Medical Response with 290 and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue with 131. Rural Metro Fire Department received 51 calls, Illinois Valley Fire District received 33, the Oregon Department of Forestry received 27, and both the Wolf Creek and Williams Rural Fire Protection Districts got nine. The local 9-1-1 agency also reported receiving 498 internal phone calls and making 512 outbound calls.

Posted on 7/8/24 5:55AM by Sam Marsh

Innovative Car Repair Lands Suspect in County Lockup

A 30-year-old man is in the Josephine County Jail following a criminal mischief/vandalism incident late Friday afternoon. Josephine County Deputies were dispatched to the 5000 block of Monument Drive to investigate the report of customer cutting off the hose from a fire extinguisher. The reporting party stated the suspect was still on the scene with a silver Buick Lacrosse with California license plates. The suspect told employees he needed it to fix his car. Deputies made contact with the suspect behind the business, placing him under arrest and transporting him to the county jail where he is being held on a charge of Criminal Mischief II-Vandalism/Crime Dama

Posted on 7/6/24 6:30AM by Chuck Benson

Felon Jailed on Warrant after Camping in Private Graveyard

A convicted felon was jailed by Josephine County Deputies for a parole violation after being found camping in a private graveyard Friday morning. Deputies were dispatched to the 2100 block of Foothill Boulevard at 7:33 a.m. after a report of a vehicle on the cemetery property with people sleeping inside. Deputies investigated a blue Hyundai SUV with a license plate that returned to a Nissan Sentra, that was suspected to be associated with a disorderly conduct Thursday night. Two adult males were contacted, and 32-year-old man was arrested when it was determined he was wanted on a valid warrant from the Oregon Parole Board for violating the terms of his parole from an original charge of attempted assault I.

Posted on 7/6/24 6:12AM by Chuck Benson

Dead Indian Memorial Road Fire 50% Mopped Up

Firefighters working on the Dead Indian Memorial Road Fire, located in the hills northeast of Ashland, made excellent progress on Friday, solidifying lines and mopping up 50% of the fire. Resources were able to extinguish hotspots up to 250-feet into the perimeter around the entire incident. The fire remains 100% lined and 43 acres in size. Last night 78 personnel were assigned to the fire, including three 20-person crews, three engines, two water tenders and various overhead. These resources will continue to work on mopping up the interior of the fire. A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 8 p.m. due to triple-digit temperatures, wind and low relative humidity, however these conditions have not affected the fire as much as expected, and little to no smoke is being detected. Due to the location of the fire, no homes were threatened, and no evacuations were issued.

Posted on 7/6/24 5:26AM by Chuck Benson

Eagle Point Police Jailed Man for Domestic Violence and Tense Standoff Incident

The Eagle Point Police Department jailed a man for numerous crimes this week after he barricaded himself inside a residence following a domestic violence call. EPD reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance between a man and woman at 111 Onyx Street on Wednesday evening. Dispatch advised officers that a neighbor could hear yelling and other noises in a lower-level unit of the apartment complex. As officers approached, they could hear the disturbance and observed a woman in a bedroom through an open window. The male suspect ran out of the bedroom and officers helped the woman escape. The suspect -- later identified as 33-year-old Kevin Heater -- tried to flee out the front door, but officers confronted him, he refused to comply with commands and retreated back into the apartment, locking the door. Additional officers arrived on scene and surrounded the building. EPD Chief Jim Hamilton said investigators determined that Heater had assaulted the woman and restricted her breathing during the altercation. It was also learned that there was an active restraining order protecting the victim from the suspect. Heater refused to come out of the apartment, so the Jackson County Sheriff's Office responded to assist with K-9 units. After several announcements for the suspect to exit the apartment, he began talking with officers through a window while other officers entered the apartment and placed him into custody.

Posted on 7/6/24 5:24AM by Chuck Benson

GP Police Jailed Woman for Trying to Light Room on Fire at Sobering Center

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for attempting to start her room on fire at the Sobering Center early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 47-year-old woman at the facility on SW Foundry Street on Friday at 1:26 a.m.. Police said Sobering Center workers called 9-1-1 to report the female subject had a lighter and was using it to try to start her holding room on fire. They said she was also stripping down naked, thrashing around and trying to destroy the room. They were able to take the lighter away from the woman. The suspect identified as "Serenity Shayne Bailey" was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempted 1st-Degree Arson and Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held on Friday without bail. Bailey had been brought in to the Sobering Center by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office because she was highly intoxicated while allegedly trying to start fires on Spencer Creek Road in the Murphy area on Thursday night. She admitted to using methamphetamine, alcohol and marijuana.

Posted on 7/6/24 5:22AM by Chuck Benson

Oregon Boaters Reminded of State Laws Outlining Duties after Water Incidents

The Oregon State Marine Board wanted to remind boaters that it's state law to help and render aid in cases where another boat is swamped, capsizes or is involved in another incident with property damage or personal injury. Marine Board officials say it's also about being a "good neighbor" on the water. By Oregon statute, failure to fulfill the duties of the boat operator could result in a Class A misdemeanor citation. In cases where the boat operator leaves the scene of a boat accident where there is personal injury or death, the boater may be charged with a Class C felony. Brian Paulsen, Boating Safety Program Coordinator for the Marine Board, said boaters need to pay close attention to other people recreating on the water around them. In many cases, he said everyday boaters become heroes when others go overboard, helping avert further tragedy. Oregon's waterways are increasingly congested, but everyone has the same right to recreate. Please be mindful and remember to share the waterway while recreating responsibly.

Posted on 7/6/24 5:21AM by Chuck Benson

Jackson County Clerk Elected Secretary of National EAC Board of Advisors

Jackson County Clerk Chris Walker has been elected Secretary of the Board of Advisors for the US Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The EAC is an independent bipartisan commission whose mission is to help election officials improve the administration of elections and help Americans participate in the voting process. Its four commissioners are appointed by the President and confirmed by the US Senate. The EAC's Board of Advisors is a 35-member panel composed of representatives appointed by members of Congress, federal agencies and national organizations including the National Association of State Election Directors and the National Association of Secretaries of State. It serves as an advisory body to the EAC on implementation and best practices of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2022. Oregon Secretary of State Lavonne Griffin-Valade said Walker has years of experience in representing Oregon as a leader among elections officials.
Walker was appointed Jackson County Clerk in November 2008 and has been re-elected in every election since. She has more than 29 years of experience in both the elections and recording programs for Jackson County. In addition to her role on the Board of Advisors, she has previously served as President of the Oregon Association of County Clerks and President of the International Association of Government Officials.

Posted on 7/6/24 5:19AM by Chuck Benson

Total Payroll Employment in Jackson County Increased by 630 in Month of May

Total payroll employment in Jackson County increased by 630 jobs in May. The Oregon Employment Department reports there were 102,522 people working in Jackson County in May for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 4.8%, which was unchanged from April. Job gains were estimated in many published industries. Retail trade and leisure & hospitality had the greatest job gains in May. Other industries adding employment were health care & social assistance, construction, financial activities, and professional and business services. Government employment grew by 140 jobs. Over the past year, payroll employment in Jackson County fell by 680 jobs, a decline of 0.8%. Since May 2023, industries adding jobs included private education & health services (+690), and construction (+160). Industries with over-the-year losses were leisure & hospitality (-430), manufacturing (-360), professional & business services (-260), retail trade (-180), transportation, warehousing & utilities (-180), other services (-120), financial activities (-90), wholesale trade (-70) and information (-60).

Posted on 7/6/24 5:18AM by Chuck Benson

Local News