Local News

Josephine County is eligible to apply for a 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from Business Oregon. Community Development Block Grant funds come from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grants can be used for public facilities and housing improvements, primarily for persons with low and moderate incomes. Approximately $11.5 million will be awarded to Oregon non-metropolitan cities and counties this year. The maximum grant that a city or county can receive for a housing rehabilitation grant is $500,000. Josephine County is preparing an application for a 2025 Community Development Block Grant to fund a housing rehabilitation project that will serve areas outside the incorporated area of Grants Pass. It is estimated that the proposed project will benefit at least 20 low- and/or moderate-income households. A public hearing will be held by the Board of Commissioners at 10 a.m. on July 31st at the Anne G. Basker Auditorium. The purpose of the hearing is for the Board to obtain citizen views and to respond to questions and comments about community development and housing needs.

 

Rogue Community College is now enrolling students for a fast-track Early Childhood Education (ECE) program that will be offered this fall. Designed to quickly prepare individuals for work with infants, toddlers and preschoolers, the program is funded by a grant that will cover tuition and books for 30 students. A short informational video is available at "roguecc.edu/FastTrack." Prospective students should complete the questionnaire on that page to receive information about the application process and Zoom information sessions. The program offers a supportive, hands-on learning experience for those interested in becoming early childhood educators or teaching assistants. Students can begin working in the field in as little as one academic term. In just one term, students can complete a Basic Certificate to qualify as a teaching assistant. Students who continue in the program can earn an Intermediate Certificate in two additional terms, preparing them to take on lead teaching roles.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry is continuing to aggressively attack wildfires that were sparked by lightning on Monday night across Jackson and Josephine counties. As of this morning, a total of 72 fires had been identified on ODF-protected lands in the two-county region. Since the start of the thunderstorms, firefighters have worked nonstop to respond to all reports of fire, keeping them as small as possible. Due to the sheer volume of local incidents and the potential for holdover fires, ODF Incident Management Team 3 will move in today to take a portion of the fires off the district's plate, allowing local firefighters to focus on a smaller number of lingering fires and be ready for any new reports that could come in. Last night, ODF crews remained engaged on fires in both counties, the largest being the Neil Creek Fire located south of Ashland and west of Interstate 5. It was estimated to be 250 acres and forced the closure of one lane of southbound I-5 overnight between mileposts 8.5 and 10.5. The fire also prompted the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management to place Level 2 evacuation notices into effect for residents in the surrounding area. The second largest fire is the Deming Gulch Fire located northeast of Buncom, which was estimated to be 200 acres this morning. Other large incidents included the Heppsie Mountain Fire located south of Highway 140 near Lake Creek, the Poole Hill Fire located south of the Heppsie Mountain Fire, the Jim Me Peak Fire located south of Applegate and the Palmer Peak Fire also located near Applegate. Across all incidents, 435 personnel are working today. ODF firefighters have successfully extinguished 11 fires in the district including the Pompadour Fire in the hills east of Ashland that was halted at 38 acres.

 

Firefighters on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest have responded to multiple confirmed wildfires and many more reports of smoke after widespread lightning moved through the area on Monday night. Air and ground resources are engaged in suppression efforts across the area, working in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Forestry and Medford BLM District as well as local and county structural fire departments. Current active wildfires on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District include the Kinney Fire 10 miles southwest of Ruch that is approximately 95 acres. Smaller incidents include the Lower Fire 1.5 miles southeast of Grayback Mountain, the Donomore Fire one mile northwest of Donomore Cabin, the Waters Fire five miles from McKee Bridge, the Alex Fire 10 miles southeast of Copper, the Ash Flats Fire six miles east of Copper, the Grayback Fire three miles east of Applegate Lake, the Deadman Fire 15 miles southwest of Ashland, the Jim Creek Fire eight miles southwest of Ashland, the Baldy Fire 10 miles south of Ruch, the River Fire three miles south of Ruch and the Summit Fire 1.5 miles south of Acorn Woman Lake. On the Wild Rivers Ranger District, incidents include the Sugarloaf Fire seven miles southeast of Steamboat, the Page Fire just south of Takilma and the Buckskin Fire four miles west of O'Brien. On the High Cascades Ranger District, there are the Swamp Fire west of Swamp Creek Reservoir, the Soda Springs Fire 20 miles southeast of Eagle Point, the Latgawa Fire 16 miles southeast of Ashland and the Kerby Fire 12 miles east of Prospect. Reconnaissance by air and ground will be ongoing to locate any new fire starts.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for violating his probation after he started an altercation with another patient at a residential treatment center last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 49-year-old Brent Lee Gordon for the incident at the OnTrack Center on Rogue River Highway on Tuesday around 10 p.m.. Police said Gordon had been drinking when he started a verbal altercation with another resident in the common area. They said the other resident escalated the situation by throwing Gordon to the ground and slamming his arm in a door. After the tussle concluded, both parties when back to their rooms. Gordon then emerged from his room with a camping hatchet and paced the kitchen area until he got bored and returned to his quarters. He did not threaten anyone with the hatchet and did not wish to pursue charges against his assailant, but still had to answer some questions from his corrections officer. The officer was not happy to hear that Gordon had been drinking and possessing a weapon, so his client was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a Josephine County Community Corrections client for suspicious activity outside a downtown pawn shop late last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 36-year-old Justin Harley Bennett for the incident outside The Jewelry Center on SW 6th Street on Tuesday shortly before midnight. Police said the manager of the pawn shop called 9-1-1 after a security company reported alarm hits at the business. The manager said it appeared a male subject was trying to get into the building. Surveillance video showed him near a window. An investigation determined that Bennett was observed on video kicking the front door and hitting the windows. Officers said there was no damage at the scene and entry was not gained, but the man's corrections officer wanted him detained. Bennett was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a 2022 conviction for an unspecified crime. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for vandalizing her neighbor's vehicle and then attempting to avoid being placed into custody yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a reported vandalism incident in the 1600-block of Medart Lane on Tuesday around 11:30 a.m.. Police said they contacted 63-year-old Peri Hana Smith-Day after her neighbor reported that Smith-Day smeared pizza and cigarette butts all over their Buick Enclave before writing on the rear window with a green substance. The message stated: "Ha, no violation, wasting your time." Upon contact, Smith-Day admitting to vandalizing her neighbor's vehicle. She was advised that she was under arrest, but pulled away and tried to avoid apprehension. Smith-Day was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held without bail. According to the report, a male companion of the suspect complained to officers that he felt his friend was being arrested "unjustly."

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant for drug possession yesterday following a brief bicycle pursuit across the Debbs Potts Memorial Bridge. According to the Police Department, officers observed 28-year-old Aleksandr Uchytil at Baker Park on Tuesday shortly after 1 p.m.. Police said they knew Uchytil was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Fentanyl Possession and they moved in for the arrest. The suspect took off on his bicycle across the Parkway Bridge, turned west on SE M Street, rode into the Skate Park and tried to elude officers while riding his bike along an irrigation canal. Uchytil was placed into custody at Taser point after he abandoned his bike and tried to run away from law enforcement. He was lodged in jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Attempted Escape. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman early yesterday for repeatedly trespassing at a northeast city residence. The Police Department reports officers responded to a trespassing call at a home in the 1300-block of NE 10th Street on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Police said 43-year-old Dion Micki Cleek returned to the residence after previously being arrested for Criminal Trespass. In fact, she had been arrested for the same crime three times in the past month. Cleek did not try to enter the home, but she was laying down in the front yard and refused to leave. She was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail.