ICAC and SOCET Jackson County Operation Results in 2 Arrests for Child Exploitation
The Oregon Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force worked with the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) to execute several search warrants. The operation resulted in two arrests connected to an ongoing investigation into child sexual abuse material being traded online. Preliminary findings indicate more than a thousand images and videos were exchanged over social media platforms. The warrants, carried out in Jackson County, targeted individuals suspected of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first and second degree. Investigators seized multiple electronic devices, which will undergo forensic analysis, and the evidence will be referred to prosecutors for review. In White City, officers arrested Eddie Lukon Stith at an address on Avenue H on an outstanding warrant from Spokane, Washington, for sexual exploitation of a minor. In Medford, investigators arrested Matthew Mario Maya at an address on Table Rock Road on 10 new counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree. ...Read more

GP Firefighters Get Raise & Three Organizations Approved for Tourism Grants
Grants Pass Firefighters will receive a raise and three local organizations will receive $5,000 dollar grants to promote tourism. City Firefighters will get a raise on January first of next year after the City Council passed a resolution to enter a salary adjustment with the local Union. The current labor contract with the International Association of Firefighters Local 3564 permitted a wage opener for wages for January 1st. Management entered negotiations that began on May 7th and, following two meetings, the City and the Union reached a tentative agreement for a wage increase for all positions of 4%. The cost for fiscal year 2026 as compared to the prior year’s salary is approximately $107,251 including all benefits and taxes. This number does not include the six additional positions the Council recently authorized on September 3rd. The Fire/Rescue budget will be closely monitored for the remainder of the year. The Council then approved a resolution awarding Lodging Tax funds to three grant applicants from the fall 2025 cycle of the Tourism Promotion Grant Program for tourism promotion. The three recipients, including Latitude Wine Tours, Grants Pass Downs and the Rogue Gateway Rotary Foundation, will each receive $5,000. This funding is for the fall 2025 cycle leaving $20,000 remaining for the spring 2026 cycle. ...Read more

Kelsey Peak Fire Reaches 90% Containment, Mop-Up Operations Continue

Firefighters on the Kelsey Peak Fire are rounding the corner on mop-up operations, bringing containment up to 90%. The fire remains 1,039 acres in size. Helicopters will be working again to support ground crews, and repair work along fire lines is ongoing. This afternoon, a local Type 3 Incident Management Team made up of Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest resources will work with ODF Team 1 to get a current overview of the incident. The Curry County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 1 – BE READY evacuation order for Rogue River Ranch, Tucker Flat Campground and Marial. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management has a Level 1 – BE READY evacuation notice for Zone JCU-801 in place. ...Read more