Local News

As the American Red Cross experiences a nationwide blood crisis, and responds to dozens of wildfires in the state, they invite the community to the opening of their new location to help serve southwest Oregon.

According to the organization, the public will be able to learn how the Red Cross opens and supports disaster shelters, installs free smoke alarms as part of their Home Fire Campaign, builds partnerships through their Community Adaptation Program, collects blood for local hospitals, and provides free training to volunteers.

The Red Cross Medford chapter office grand opening will take place Wednesday, July 29th, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 1550 Biddle Road. There will be guest speakers, photo opportunities, refreshments, and a free raffle.

 

Ashland Police officers responded to a parking area behind a local business for a report of a strong-armed robbery that occurred Monday.

Witnesses reported that a man pulled a female victim from a car and stole her purse in the 2300 block of Ashland Street around 6:55 p.m. The man reportedly fled the scene through an open field toward Interstate 5.

Officers, assisted by the Talent Police Department, arrived on scene and began looking for the suspect. He was quickly located walking northbound on I-5 near mile marker 15.5.

Officer retraced the path of the fleeing suspect, finding some of the stolen property. Further investigation indicated that the suspect likely intended to steal the victim’s car as well. The victim did not report being injured.

Officers were able to obtain video evidence in support of the charges, and the suspect was identified as Michael Scott Todnem, 39, of Grants Pass. He was lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Robbery in the Third Degree, Unauthorized Entry of a Motor Vehicle, Fourth Degree Assault, Harassment, Third Degree Theft, and Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree.

Any additional witnesses are asked to call the Ashland Police Department at 541-482-5211.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on trespass and failure to register charges after checking on an encampment near the railroad Monday.

Law enforcement located the suspect walking on the tracks near NW Sun View Place and NW Native Run Loop. He was contacted and identified as Jason Williams, and officers learned he was out of compliance with his sex offender registration.

Williams advised officers he was no longer living at his last listed residence, and he was promptly arrested. Police transported Williams to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for crimes of Felony Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, and Criminal Trespass in the First Degree.

He was trespassed from the railroad property and provided with a property receipt for his backpack. Due to a lack of jail resources, he was later released.

 

A $23,750 grant has been awarded to the Sugarloaf Community Association which will go to facilitate the Williams Food Pantry.

According to the association, the grant comes from the Oregon Food Bank. It provides the essential start-up funding needed to establish the Williams Food Pantry as a sustainable, community-operated partner agency.

It will support staffing, food transportation, storage improvements, and the equipment needed to serve local families reliably. By strengthening local capacity, the pantry will be better prepared to provide access to nutritious food, respond to emergencies like wildfires and severe weather, and help meet the rural community's needs.

The Williams Community Pantry is open every Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Williams Grange. It is made possible in partnership with the Josephine County Food Bank, Sugarloaf Community Association, and the Williams Grange.

 

Firefighters continued steady progress across the East Evans Creek Fire Monday, with crews focused on gridding the area to locate and extinguish any remaining hotspots. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, firefighters took advantage of overnight humidity recoveries to continue mop-up operations while an Uncrewed Aircraft System mapped remaining heat across the fire. The fire remains at 15,580 acres and 66% contained. Three chippers are working throughout the incident processing brush and small trees cut during suppression efforts. Crews are removing equipment from areas where it is no longer needed. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place for the fire area daily until further notice. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire is illegal. It compromises the safety of both pilots and firefighters, and interferes with firefighting efforts. According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, all Level 1: BE READY to evacuate notifications for the East Evans Creek Fire have been canceled. All road closures are lifted but please be cautious as fire personnel are still in the area.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is searching for a missing person. David Wright was last seen at Jubilation Fellowship Church in Murphy on July 21st around 8:00 a.m. He likely left the church on a white Genesis mountain bike wearing a tan short sleeve shirt and plaid shorts. He is described as a 71-year-old 5'9" Caucasian male with white hair, blue eyes, and weighing around 160 pounds. It is unknown where David may have gone, however, he was seen on security footage at Dollar General in Murphy around 9:30 a.m. that same day. Anyone with information on David’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office at 541-474-5123. Reference Case #: 26-20107

 

A man caused a disturbance outside a business, leading to his arrest by Josephine County Sheriff's deputies.

Sunday around 5:13 p.m., the manager of the undisclosed business in the 2400 block of Rogue River Highway reported a man came in complaining about being injured. He was cussing, yelling, claiming his sister had stabbed him, and threatened to burn down the building.

Dispatch was then told the suspect had scared a customer away, and a request was made for him to be trespassed. The manager was advised to go back inside the business and lock all the doors. The suspect then reportedly walked away along the highway.

Deputies located and apprehended the suspect, identifying him as Nicholas Stephey. He was taken into custody for Second Degree Trespassing, Menacing, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was trespassed from the business, and lodged in jail.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a man for Methamphetamine Possession after responding to an argument in Riverside Park Saturday afternoon.

The incident occurred at the river's edge below 200 Lewis Avenue regarding a dog that was off its leash. One of the men, Peter Rivera, was reportedly holding a pistol in his hand during the argument. Video provided by the other man showed Rivera never threatened him with the firearm, but was already holding it upon the man's arrival.

Rivera denied having a firearm, but rather a black CO2 pellet pistol resembling a real firearm, was located near the incident location by a camp. A clear glass pipe with a burnt residue and small clear bag with a white crystalline substance were both located near the camp where Rivera and the dog's owner were sitting.

Rivera's parole officer was contacted, and a detainer was requested. The substance in the clear bag was field tested and showed positive results for Meth.

Officers then took Rivera into custody at the scene and transported him to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility. He was lodged for Possession of Meth and his detainer.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies pulled over and lodged two suspects for Fentanyl Possession warrants Sunday.

A traffic stop was conducted on a white Chevy at the Liberty Pentecostal Church in Fruitdale around 3:39 p.m. It initially took off from law enforcement in the 1500 block of Hamilton Lane, and the two men in the vehicle were contacted and detained.

Deputies found both men, Jeffery Haile, and Stephen Jarrard were both wanted out of the Sheriff's Department for Possession of Fentanyl warrants. They were taken into custody at the scene. Jarrard had a detainer placed on him per his parole officer.

The girlfriend of one of the suspects arrived to retrieve the vehicle. Haile and Jarrard were lodged in the Adult Jail Facility for their warrants.