Local News

In order to ensure that an adequate supply of water is available for public health and safety, the Medford Water Commission is requiring customers to immediately restrict certain non-essential water uses to preserve water for domestic use and fire emergencies. In addition to Medford water customers, this message also applies to properties in Central Point, Eagle Point, Phoenix, Talent, Jacksonville and White City. The restrictions include prohibitions on lawn/turf irrigation, garden and ornamental plant irrigation; fountains; car washing except at facilities that recycle; non-emergency hydrant use and water main flushing; dust control using water at construction sites; washing of sidewalks, streets, decks and driveways except as necessary for public health and safety; washing of buildings; filling or adding to landscape ponds or public or private swimming pools. Non-essential use is banned. A power outage at the Robert A. Duff Water Treatment Plant occurred this morning. Staff has been working with Pacific Power on repairs and bringing equipment back online. However, it may be some time before the system is fully functional and during this time the plant cannot supply treated water to meet current demands. These restrictions are mandatory. Failure to comply may result in substantial rate surcharges and/or fines.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry has extinguished three lightning-sparked fires on lands it protects in Jackson County. ODF Southwest reports the Tyler Creek Fire located on the side of Mount Baldy east of Ashland was caught at a quarter-acre. The Eve Springs Fire and Buck Prairie Road Fire were also completely lined and mopped up by this morning. While there aren't any active fires on ODF-protected lands at this time, the agency is gearing up for another day of monitoring lightning strike areas with aircraft, the ODF Detection Center and on the ground in firefighter patrol areas. On Monday night, there were 20 new cloud-to-ground lightning strikes on ODF-protected lands, adding to the more than 130 strikes received Sunday night. Fires started by lightning can smolder for days until the right weather conditions fuel growth. ODF firefighters will remain ready to respond to these incidents as they are found and reported.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a nationwide fugitive warrant at a Cave Junction area recreational vehicle park early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 30-year-old Brandon Michael O'Brien at Country Hills RV Resort in the 7900-block of Caves Highway on Monday at 9:17 a.m.. Deputies said the park manager requested a welfare check on a male subject who arrived in a Jeep Compass and was sleeping inside the rental vehicle. The caller said he would check on the man himself, but he was recently injured in a wreck. Upon arrival, deputies contacted O'Brien and discovered that he was wanted on Warren County, Missouri, Sheriff's Office warrant for Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for Receiving Stolen Property. O'Brien was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the nationwide warrant. He was being held without bail pending extradition to Missouri.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client on two local warrants yesterday. The Police Department reports officers placed 25-year-old Calvin Mathew Bertik into custody at the Community Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Monday at 1:19 p.m.. Police said Bertik was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Burglary, 3rd-Degree Theft and two counts of Possession of Methamphetamine. He was aware that he was wanted and was arrested peacefully. Bertik was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants and he was being held without bail.

 

A motor vehicle accident on Redwood Highway near Selma sent three people to the hospital yesterday. The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon State Police were dispatched to what was reported to be a four-vehicle collision near milepost 18 of US Highway 199 on Monday at 2:37 p.m.. Upon arrival, it was determined that only two vehicles were involved in the rear-end crash. OSP reported the wreck occurred between a Nissan Maxima driven by 77-year-old Darryl Eugene Shoemaker of Cave Junction and a Chevrolet Impala driven by 49-year-old Albert Bruce Jones of Medford. Troopers cited the at-fault driver for Following Too Closely, but did not indicate who that was in the report. IVFD officials said a total of six occupants were assessed at the scene, with three requiring ambulance transport to a local medical facility. Jerry's Towing removed the vehicles and hauled them to Cave Junction. During the incident, both travel lanes of the highway were temporarily blocked.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a motorist after receiving several driving complaints on Redwood Highway near Selma last weekend. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Jeep Compass driven by 65-year-old Harold Huntly Hersch near milepost 22 of US Highway 199 on Sunday at about 2:35 p.m.. Troopers said they were alerted to multiple driving complaints about a Jeep SUV that was unable to maintain its travel lane and driving into oncoming traffic. The driver was identified as Hersch and -- due to having multiple medical conditions -- he was cited to appear in court for Reckless Driving and released. Two citizens offered to help Hersch get home to prevent further incidents. The Jeep was released to the citizens at the driver's request.

 

Grants Pass Police cited a woman for dumping trash cans in the downtown area early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 46-year-old Brooke Mack near the corner of SE 6th and G streets on Monday at 4:43 a.m.. Police said Mack dumped out five trash cans along 6th Street between D and G streets, pulling the liners out of the bins and dumping them on the ground. She was cited to appear in court for Offensive Littering. On Sunday night, officers cited Jonathan Bull for Scattering Rubbish after they found him inside a dumpster at the 6th & A Street resting site, removing trash. On Monday morning, officers cited Cori Draper for Prohibited Camping after she set up a tent at Kesterson Park. She was advised of the rule prohibiting camping in city parks and said she was going to file a complaint.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a teenage girl for assaulting and threatening her foster family in the Wolf Creek area last weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 1300-block of Speaker Road on Sunday morning. Deputies said a man called 9-1-1 to report that his 17-year-old foster daughter got intoxicated at a friend's home on Saturday night, got a ride home and proceeded to assault him and his wife. The caller said the girl was wielding a knife, but they were able to disarm her before locking themselves in a bedroom cabinet for safety. According to the report, the teenage suspect has been acting erratically and she punched her foster father twice before getting into an argument with her foster mother. She was described as being "uncooperative." Upon arrival, deputies interviewed the girl and her foster parents before placing her into custody. She was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Juvenile Justice Center for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felony 2nd-Degree Assault, 4th-Degree Assault, three counts of Strangulation and Menacing. On the way to Grants Pass, the girl reportedly slipped out of her handcuffs, banged her head in the patrol vehicle and tried to grab a knife before she was subdued. A charge of Resisting Arrest was added to her criminal bill.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for roughing up a woman in the Hugo area last weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 600-block of Oxyoke Road on Sunday night. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that she was physically assaulted by 38-year-old Mark Joseph Fuller. She told dispatchers that Fuller choked her and was not letting her leave the residence. She said she was not injured. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed both parties before placing Fuller into custody. Fuller was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Strangulation. He was being held without bail. The female victim was advised to obtain a restraining order against Fuller. She said she would go to the Courthouse to get one after moving her belongings out of the residence.