Local News

Emergency first responders had their hands full with two Sunday afternoon wrecks on Redwood Highway in the Illinois Valley. On Sunday at 2:36 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon State Police were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision on US Highway 199 at Holton Creek Road near Kerby. OSP reports evidence at the scene and witness statements indicated the driver of a white Dodge pickup was distracted, crossed the center line into oncoming traffic and struck the side of a travel trailer being pulled by a silver Chevrolet Silverado. The driver of the Dodge was identified as a 70-year-old Cave Junction man and the driver of the Chevrolet was identified as a 58-year-old Central Point man. No one was hurt and no citations were issued. It was unclear if any vehicles were towed. On Sunday at 3:42 p.m., IVFD, AMR and OSP responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 199 near Smokejumper Way. Scene evidence and driver statements indicated there was a road rage incident just prior to the wreck. Troopers said a white Toyota Tacoma driven by a 41-year-old Crescent City woman was driving in the right lane when a red Honda CRV driven by a 25-year-old O'Brien man tried to pass the Tacoma on the right due to them not moving over. The Tacoma moved into the left lane just as the CRV tried to go around the Tacoma on the left. The vehicles collided and came to rest on the highway. According to OSP, the driver of the CRV and the passenger in the Tacoma exited their vehicles and yelled at each other. The driver of the CRV pushed the passenger of the Tacoma, causing him to fall over the guardrail. Charges of 4th-Degree Assault against both parties were referred to the District Attorney's Office.

 

A Eugene man was jailed for eight alleged crimes following a domestic violence incident in the northern Applegate Valley last weekend. The Oregon State Police reports troopers arrested the 61-year-old male subject on Sunday at 11:15 p.m. after a traffic stop near milepost 10 of Williams Highway. Troopers said they located the subject fleeing in a Volvo XS90 after perpetrating a domestic violence incident. They said the man had taken a 3-year-old boy from the 33-year-old female victim and fled in a stolen vehicle. According to OSP, the suspect eluded an attempted traffic stop and a pursuit was initiated. The suspect vehicle was eventually disabled and the man was placed into custody. The young child was returned to his mother. The suspect -- identified by OSP as Anderon Martell -- was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, 4th-Degree Assault and Menacing. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for a weapons crime and violating his post-prison supervision after a citizen complaint in the south part of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 39-year-old male subject for the incident in the 300-block of Short Street on Monday at 2:16 a.m.. Police said they responded to the area of Short and West Park streets in regard to a shots-fired call. A neighbor called 9-1-1 to report that she heard a gun discharged and the man suspected to have shot the firearm was arguing with a woman next to a silver Honda Accord. The caller also said she heard screaming and was unsure if anyone had been shot. Officers arrived on scene and found the man sitting in the driver seat of the car with a woman sitting in the front passenger seat. The man was wearing an empty holster and a gun was found hidden within reach of the driver seat. The .22-caliber Ruger pistol was seized as evidence. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Weapon and the resulting Felony Parole Violation related to a 2019 conviction for an unspecified crime. Jail records show the man has been arrested for violating his parole five times since August of last year.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man who unlawfully entered a home in the Illinois Valley last weekend. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 4600-block of Takilma Road on Sunday around 12:45 p.m.. Deputies said the property owner called 9-1-1 to report a large man with a beard broke into his house, but did not steal anything. The caller reported the neighboring property is a "nuisance property" and there are about 10 people living there whom he said are responsible for numerous thefts in the area. A records check showed that the neighboring property was also well-known to law enforcement, with a history of weapons use there. Upon arrival, deputies located the 46-year-old suspect and placed him into custody. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after a weekend traffic complaint. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a Toyota 4-Runner driven by a 44-year-old woman near the corner of SE 7th and L streets on Sunday around 4:50 p.m.. Police said a fellow motorist had been following the Toyota into town from the Fish Hatchery area and the citizen reported the vehicle was swerving, driving in a bicycle lane, and almost hitting other vehicles as well as a curb. Officers followed the suspect vehicle to a residence in the 400-block of NE Royal Drive where they contacted the woman in the driver's seat of the SUV. She showed strong signs of impairment and tried to walk away from officers before she was detained. She requested a lawyer, but a search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. Based on the results of the blood draw, the suspect was lodged at the Grants Pass Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.

 

A working smoke alarm, a charged fire extinguisher, closed doors, quick action by the occupant and a fast call to 9-1-1 all contributed to keeping damage from a fire inside a New Hope area laundry room from turning disastrous. On Monday at 5:27 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on Stringer Gap Road and found a house filled with smoke. The occupants had escaped safely after confining the fire to a trash can and adjacent wall. After the blaze was confirmed to be out, the house was ventilated by firefighters using a specialized fan. Rural Metro officials said they applaud the occupants for all the things that were used or in place to limit growth of the fire. Officials remind residents about the safe discarding of stain-soaked rags to avoid spontaneous combustion. Be sure to hang and completely dry rags or store them in a metal container with a lid or filled with water. The storage of rags outside and away from structures is also a preferred option to placing them in the trash.

 

The Oregon State Marine Board has opened rulemaking for the Upper Rogue River in Jackson County. The Marine Board asked staff to schedule a local meeting in early October to hear invited testimony with representatives from all sides and to have an open public comment period for anyone interested in participating in the process. The Board will consider the information they receive at the public meeting on whether to pursue a rule for boat operations on the Upper Rogue at its October 23rd quarterly meeting. If the Board approves a new rule, there will be an additional public comment period on the proposed rule language between the end of October and the January 2025 quarterly meeting. For the meeting replay link, detailed PowerPoint presentations and other materials, visit the Oregon State Marine Board's Public Meetings Page.

 

Jackson County Vector Control reports West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes collected on July 23rd in northwest Central Point. It's the first West Nile virus detection in Jackson County this year. In August 2023, the virus was identified in 10 mosquito samples. The mosquitoes were collected by the Vector Control District as part of a routine surveillance program. Residents are advised to take basic precautions against mosquitoes since West Nile virus is spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. People should consult their health care providers if they experience any flu-like symptoms -- especially in people over 50 years of age with underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Health care providers can contact the Jackson County Health Department for information on West Nile virus. Testing is available at private laboratories. The virus also affects wildlife and domesticated farm animals. Horse owners should get their animals vaccinated for West Nile virus. Horses with neurologic disease should be examined by a veterinarian. The Jackson County Vector Control District suggests several steps to protect against mosquitoes.

 

US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding $17.3 million to the state under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The AIP grant program funds airport infrastructure projects such as improvements to runways, taxiways, passenger boarding bridges,, airport signage, airport lighting and airport markings to strengthen the nation's aviation infrastructure. By far the largest recipient of AIP funding is the Portland International Airport, which will receive over $7.7 million. The Bend Municipal Airport will receive $3.75 million and the Roseburg Regional Airport will get over $2.1 million. The Grants Pass Airport is the only airfield in Josephine and Jackson counties to receive AIP funding. The airport near Merlin will get $274,180 for unspecified infrastructure improvements. Wyden said Oregon airports play a key role in emergency response along with their everyday reliability for medical supplies, passenger travel and moving small business products. He said he's gratified that these airports have secured federal funding that will enable them to achieve these goals more safely and effectively.