Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for causing a disturbance at an RV park in the southern Illinois Valley this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested a 39-year-old male subject for the incident at the Lone Mountain Resort in O'Brien on Tuesday afternoon. Deputies said a resident of the resort reported that the subject appeared to be under the influence of narcotics when he threatened to shoot him in the head. The caller told dispatchers the subject also threw several large rocks at him, but he was not injured. He described the subject as "yelling and being disorderly." Upon arrival, deputies looked for the suspect in and around the O'Brien General Store. They eventually located him near milepost 35 of Redwood Highway and placed him into custody. He had a small amount of methamphetamine visible in his pocket -- it was seized for destruction. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and booked into the Josephine County Jail for Menacing and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail and he was trespassed from the RV park.

 

The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division has identified three suspects involved in two separate trespassing incidents and the unlawful take of a large bull elk in Central Point. The incidents occurred on September 8th and September 10th. In both incidents, the suspects were observed trespassing on private land near Crater Lake Avenue and McLoughlin Drive. The suspects killed one 5x5 bull elk on September 8th and left it to waste. On September 10th, another suspect attempted to kill another bull elk on the same property but fled after being confronted by the property owner. OSP had put out a bulletin seeking public assistance in identifying the suspects on Monday and announced on Wednesday that the suspects had been identified. No names were disclosed in the bulletin. It was also not disclosed whether the suspects had been contacted or charged with any crimes. If you witness or have information about habitat or wildlife law violations or any suspicious activity, contact the OSP Tip Hotline at 1-(800)-452-7888 or simply dial *OSP. Information provided that leads to an arrest or the issuance of a citation is eligible for a $1,000 cash reward or four Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife preference points.

 

Qualified firms are invited to submit a proposal for engineering services for the water and sewer line expansion for the Illinois Valley Fire District located in Cave Junction. The RFP document is posted on the IVFD website, which is "ivfire.com." The deadline for proposals is 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8th, and the proposal opening will take place at the IVFD Office at that time. Proposals may be e-mailed to "teresa@stovewriting.com" or mailed or delivered to the Illinois Valley Fire District, 681 Caves Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523. If mailed, the proposals must be received by the deadline.

 

The Grants Pass City Council last night approved a resolution supplementing the Fiscal Year 2025 budget after a contentious debate over the funding of homeless services. Following several failed motions, the City Council eventually voted 7-1 to approve minor changes to the current budget reflecting additions to the Transportation Projects, Stormwater Projects, Wastewater, Fleet Operations and Industrial & Downtown funds. It was the homeless service additions to the General Fund that caused the debate. The meeting was recessed for 10 minutes after strong and disruptive opposition voiced by citizens during the public hearing. City Finance Director JC Rowley presented a supplemental budget to the Council that included $440,000 for homeless services being provided at the two designated campgrounds on SE G Street and at the corner of 6th & A streets along with projected expenses at a future campground that is being prepared next to the Grants Pass Police Department on NE 7th Street. It will replace the 6th & A site. The majority of the Council felt $440,000 was too much money for homeless services. Members of the panel were opposed to expenditures for rented fencing, cleaning services provided at the campsites and the demolition of a building near GPPD headquarters being included in the supplemental funding. Motions changing the homeless services funding ranged from $440,000 to $290,000. All of them failed until Rick Ryker made a motion to fund the program with $325,000.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday began the process of forming a rural fire protection district and continued its work to tidy up the County Code. The Board voted unanimously to approve an order that initiates the formation of a rural fire protection district for Josephine County and set the first public hearing on the district for October 23rd at 9 a.m.. County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that the district can be formed without a permanent tax rate. He said if the fire district is approved by the Commissioners, a district board of directors will be formed that would set the tax rate for rural properties outside the City of Grants Pass and existing fire protection districts. Hicks said the proposed tax rate for the proposed fire district must be approved by Josephine County voters next May, adding that a fire district can exist without a tax rate. He said the physical boundaries of the district have not yet been finalized and that will be done by the Board with public input prior to its approval. Following four brief public hearings, the Board continued its work to clean up sections of the Josephine County Code that are outdated or no longer necessary.

 

US Cellular and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley have announced the return of their 3rd annual Hispanic Heritage Month Art Contest. New to the 2024 contest, the top three first-place submissions with the most votes from all participating clubs will also be named national winners and will receive an additional $250 -- bringing their total winnings to $500 -- while their home club will also receive a $1,000 donation. Up to 10 finalists from each of the six Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley will be chosen by local Club representatives and US Cellular leaders based on creativity, quality, interpretation, clarity of theme and overall impression. The finalists' artwork will be digitally displayed in select US Cellular stores. Through September 22nd, anyone 18 and older is invited to vote for their favorite art online. The top three vote-getters at each club will be announced in October, with the winners receiving $250 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third place.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning started the process of forming a rural fire protection district and continued its work to tidy up the County Code. The Board voted unanimously to approve an order that initiates the formation of a rural fire protection district for Josephine County and set the first public hearing on the district for October 23rd at 9 a.m.. County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that the district can be formed without a permanent tax rate. He said if the fire district is approved by the Commissioners, a district board of directors will be formed that would set the tax rate for rural properties outside the City of Grants Pass and existing fire protection districts. Hicks said the proposed tax rate for the proposed fire district must be approved by Josephine County voters next May, adding that a fire district can exist without a tax rate. He said the physical boundaries of the district have not yet been finalized and that will be done by the Board with public input prior to its approval. Following four brief public hearings, the Board continued its work to clean up sections of the Josephine County Code that are outdated or no longer necessary. After the first hearing, Board adopted an ordinance amending the Emergency Medical Services Chapter of the Code. Language was simplified and a section was added related to the transport of injured timber workers. The Commissioners also approved the first readings of ordinances repealing chapters of the Code pertaining to ballot measures, genetically-engineered plants and loitering near the county jail. The second readings are scheduled for October 2nd.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a young man for allegedly threatening to kill another young man in Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested an 18-year-old male subject at a home in the 3600-block of Caves Highway on Tuesday shortly before noon. Deputies said a young man called 9-1-1 to report being threatened by the subject with a firearm. They said the subject called the young man and threatened to kill him over an altercation that occurred between the two on a weekend camping trip. According to the report, the incident occurred at a school that is next to Illinois Valley High School. No other details were disclosed, but the suspect was located and placed into custody at the home of his girlfriend. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for causing a disturbance at an RV park in the southern Illinois Valley yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested a 39-year-old male subject for the incident at the Lone Mountain Resort in O'Brien on Tuesday at 2:06 p.m.. Deputies said a resident of the resort reported that the subject appeared to be under the influence of narcotics when he threatened to shoot him in the head. The caller told dispatchers the subject also threw several large rocks at him, but he was not injured. He described the subject as "yelling and being disorderly." Upon arrival, deputies looked for the suspect in and around the O'Brien General Store. They eventually located him near milepost 35 of Redwood Highway and placed him into custody. He had a small amount of methamphetamine visible in his pocket -- it was seized for destruction. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and booked into the Josephine County Jail for Menacing and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail and he was trespassed from the RV park.