Local News

No one was hurt when two vehicles collided near Cave Junction last weekend. On Sunday at 6:31 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the crash at the intersection of Happy Camp and Takilma roads. IVFD officials said arriving units found all the occupants out of the vehicles that had crashed. They said the occupants exchanged information and arranged for their own tows. Officials said the cause of the wreck was under investigation.

 

Four local agencies responded to grass fires in the Redwood area of Grants Pass and near Cave Junction late yesterday. On Monday afternoon, Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a grass fire in the area of Demaray Drive and Willow Lane. Rural Metro officials said the fire was contained to 1/4-acre and intervention by civilians was instrumental in controlling the blaze. The cause of the fire was under investigation. On Monday evening, the Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a grass fire in the 100-block of Patton Bar Road. IVFD and ODF crews extinguished the fire, keeping it away from a nearby home. Officials said the fire originated from a malfunctioning extension cord.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for using a collapsible baton to threaten another man in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 47-year-old male subject for the incident that occurred at NE 6th and D streets on Sunday around 1:45 p.m.. Police said the subject used the baton to threaten physical harm to the other man. The victim told officers the subject was following him and also threatened to burn down his tent. He was in fear of his safety and believed the other man intended to harm him. A third-party witness reported the man later identified as "David McDonald" was brandishing the baton in a threatening manner and making threatening statements toward the victim. McDonald was disarmed, placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted for crimes committed in northern California over the weekend in Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 31-year-old male subject in the 1900-block of Laurel Road on Sunday at 5:44 p.m.. Deputies said they responded to a physical fight between two men at the home where one of them was armed with a gun and the other was armed with a knife. They said the two men are neighbors and no one was hurt after one of them was told by dispatchers to return to the inside of his house. Upon arrival, officers discovered that one of the combatants was wanted on a felony warrant issued by the Weed Police Department for failing to appear in court for Felon in Possession of Ammunition and Making a False Representation. After the warrant was confirmed, the man identified as "James Wilson" was placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and was being held pending extradition to Weed.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for kicking in the front door of a residence near the downtown area last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing call in the 200-block of SW Central Avenue late Saturday night. Police said a 65-year-old male subject was allowed to stay at the incident location for a few days, but he was kicked out by the homeowner after he started yelling that people were after him. The subject appeared to be impaired by narcotics, which caused to him to hallucinate that a mob was going to get him. The man refused to leave the premises and he began kicking the front door of the home until it broke. Arriving officers placed him into custody without incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and he was being held without bail.

 

A paraglider was seriously injured when he crashed into the south face of Mount Sexton early yesterday. On Monday at 9:25 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the mishap on the mountain north of Grants Pass. Rural Metro officials said the paraglider clipped some trees after launching from Mount Sexton and came down in an open area next to the access road leading to the communications and fire observation towers. Officials said the glider's injuries were serious, but they did not appear to be life-threatening. Friends of the unidentified patient were able to provide basic care until rescue crews arrived on scene. Rescue crews were assisted by an Oregon Department of Forestry supervisor. A Mercy Flights helicopter landed at the Oregon Department of Transportation maintenance yard next to Interstate 5 Exit 66 to transport the patient to the hospital.

 

Units from Rogue Valley Strike Team #1 were mobilized to a fire at Roseburg Forest Products in Medford late yesterday. On Monday afternoon, Medford Fire-Rescue responded to a three-alarm fire at the wood products manufacturer. It was upgraded to a fourth alarm and a total of 12 engines, two ladder trucks and six chiefs went to work. Rogue Valley Strike Team #1 is composed of Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, Rural Metro Fire Department, Jackson County Fire District #1, Illinois Valley Fire District and Applegate Valley Fire District. Officials said the fire appears to have started in the mill's ventilation system. Crews worked for several hours to knock down the flames as well as pockets of fire located within the roof system. The local team was released at 10:30 p.m.. There were no injuries reported and the amount of damage was not disclosed. Officials said the cause of the fire was accidental and the specific origin is under investigation in cooperation with facility staff.

 

As local children return to school this week, emergency first responders say safety on the road becomes more important than ever. The Illinois Valley Fire District is sharing some tips to help keep everyone safe. Watch for school buses. Slow down and stop when the bus lights are flashing. Yield to pedestrians. Kids can be unpredictable. Keep an eye out at crosswalks and in school zones. Avoid distractions. Stay focused on the road, with no texting or multitasking behind the wheel. Plan your route. Expect more traffic during school hours. Give yourself extra time to avoid rushing around. IVFD officials said together, we can make this school year safe for everyone.

 

As the new school year begins this week, families have a limited window to secure essential food assistance through the new Summer EBT program. The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access. With the application deadline approaching on September 2nd, it's crucial for eligible families to act now. Thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify for this benefit. The Oregon Department of Human Services and Oregon Department of Education are urging families to check their eligibility and apply before the deadline. Remember, once benefits are received, you have 122 days to use them. Most eligible children received their benefits automatically on June 28th, if their households participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or are Oregon Health Plan members in households with incomes under 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. Children in foster care also automatically received Summer EBT. However, families who did not receive benefits automatically should still apply to determine their eligibility. Families are encouraged to visit "sebt.oregon.gov" or contact the Summer EBT Call Center at 1-(833)-ORE-SEBT to verify their eligibility and apply.