Local News

Firefighters battled a structure fire in the Redwood area of southwest Grants Pass last weekend. On Sunday shortly before 1 p.m., Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and Rural Metro Fire Department responded to the incident at Dunrovin Mobile Home Park in the 2300-block of Redwood Avenue. Engines from Grants Pass and Rural Metro converged on a single-wide mobile home that had fire involvement. Crews deployed hose lines and entered the structure to extinguish the blaze and search for occupants simultaneously. The incident was under control within 25 minutes of the initial 9-1-1 call and there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

An alert passerby assisted Rural Metro Fire Department with mounting a rapid response to extinguish a structure fire in the Hugo area early yesterday. On Monday at 8:09 a.m., Rural Metro crews from the North Valley Station were dispatched to a house fire on Oxyoke Road near Three Pines Road. Rural Metro officials said the passerby called the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center after observing smoke coming from behind a building. Firefighters arrived quickly to find smoke coming from the attic of a home and filling the interior. Occupants had already exited safely as they were alerted by their smoke alarm. No one was hurt. Officials said the fire appeared to have started from radiant heat of a flue pipe that was too close to structural components and eventually ignited. Due to the early detection and quick response, the building sustained minimal damage. According to the report, the passerby was a member of Josephine County Emergency Management.

 

The City of Rogue River will be placing a plaque honoring the dedication and service of longtime Tree City USA member Don Moody this week. The public is invited to attend the dedication event on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Palmerton Park, 300 West Evans Creek Road. If you have any questions regarding the dedication, please contact Rogue River City Administrator Ryan Nolan at (541)-582-4401 or send an e-mail to "rnolan@cityofrogueriver.org."

 

The US Forest Service has announced that the release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Northwest Forest Plan amendment is now expected in November. This decision follows a productive meeting of the Northwest Forest Plan Advisory Committee (FAC) held late last month in Stevenson, Washington. The three-day meeting proved pivotal in ensuring the forthcoming DEIS accurately reflects the FAC's comprehensive recommendations. After in-depth discussions with the FAC, the Forest Service opted to revise portions of the DEIS to better align with the committee's consensus recommendations. Key topics addressed during the meeting included climate change adaptation, sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities, and greater Tribal inclusion in land management planning and implementation. The FAC -- a diverse 20-person group representing Tribes, local communities, environmental organizations, industry and academia across Oregon, Washington and northern California -- unanimously advanced a comprehensive set of recommendations for updating the Northwest Forest Plan. The DEIS is expected to be published in the Federal Register in November, initiating a 90-day public comment period.

 

Applications are now being accepted for two positions on the Grants Pass Budget Committee. These are three-year positions that will expire on December 31, 2027. The Grants Pass Budget Committee receives and reviews the recommended budget and approves a spending plan for the City Council's consideration. Half of the budget committee members are elected officials and half are applicants from the community at large. The committee representation welcomes divergent views from the community. Special qualifications for Budget Committee members are they must be residents and electors of the City of Grants Pass. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, December 20th. Candidates will be interviewed by the City Council on Monday, January 13th, 2025. Appointments will be made by the City Council on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025.

 

The 18th Annual Empty Bowls event will be held at Parkway Christian Center in Grants Pass on Monday, October 14th. Empty Bowls is a grassroots efforts led by Options for Southern Oregon in partnership with the Josephine County Food Bank that includes artists and restaurants in our community. Josephine County is one of the most food-insecure counties in all of Oregon. Empty Bowls raises funds to fight hunger. All proceeds from Empty Bowls will go to help the Josephine County Food Bank provide food to the needy. Guests choose a handcrafted bowl and then fill their bowl with gourmet soup and bread from several restaurants who are 2024 soup sponsors. Local potters from Clayfolk, the Southern Oregon Potters' Association, have generously donated their time and talent to make more than 400 beautifully handcrafted bowls for the event. Tickets are $40 if purchased in advance or $45 at the door.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for multiple crimes after a weekend disturbance near Wolf Creek. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 59-year-old Randy Carter Thompson for the incident in the 3300-block of Speaker Road on Saturday at 10:36 a.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that Thompson trespassed on their property and refused to leave, throwing punches at her husband and screaming at everyone who was there. The caller said she did not know the male subject and that he tried to assault her husband with a T-post, but her husband hit him in the face. Upon arrival, deputies said Thompson had a bloody face and was yelling that he needed medical attention. They placed him into custody after determining that was not seriously hurt. Thompson was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, Harassment, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for violating a court order and struggling with deputies after a weekend disturbance in the Jerome Prairie area. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident in the 3,000-block of Jerome Prairie Road on Saturday around 7:15 p.m.. Deputies said the property owner reported that 80-year-old Donald Eugene Park was outside their home pounding on the front door, despite the fact that she had a valid stalking order against him. The caller said the elderly man lives on the same property and he had been watching her family. Park reportedly threatened to shoot the family and said he was going to shut their power off. He cornered the complainant's 16-year-old son in the family's truck, but the son locked the door and was not hurt. Upon arrival, deputies placed Park into custody with some difficulty as he struggled with them. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Stalking Order Violation and Attempted Assault on a Peace Officer. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for old and new crimes after he caused a weekend disturbance at a local towing company. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at Caveman Towing on NW Vine Street on Saturday at 2:40 p.m.. Police said company workers reported that 24-year-old Calvin Mathew Bertik arrived and requested to have his vehicle returned after it was seized as evidence in a recent criminal investigation. Officers contacted the subject and determined that there was probable cause for his arrest for 2nd-Degree Burglary, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 3rd-Degree Theft, so they placed him into custody. During a consent search, Bertik was found to be in possession of two containers with a white crystal substance in them that tested positive for methamphetamine. Bertik was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for probable cause of the mentioned crimes as well as for Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.