Local News

Four people were injured in a weekend crash on Rogue River Highway about three miles east of Grants Pass. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision near milepost 3.5 of Highway 99 on Saturday evening. Troopers said an investigation determined that a Dodge Caravan driven by 25-year-old Nathen Allen Kent of Grants Pass swerved into the oncoming travel lane and collided head-on with a Toyota Tundra driven by 48-year-old Gary Lane Sauer of Kerby. They said Kent initially fled the scene, but later returned and was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for evaluation. He was not impaired. Sauer and three passengers in the pickup were transported by ambulance to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were towed from the scene. Following the investigation, Kent was cited for Careless Driving and No Insurance.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a fire involving several vehicles along Redwood Highway south of Cave Junction last weekend. On Sunday at 8:39 a.m., IVFD and ODF crews were dispatched to the incident in the 30,600-block of US Highway 199. IVFD officials said arriving units found six vehicles ablaze, with the flames spreading to the adjacent wildland. The fire was extinguished and contained in short order with minimal spread. There were no injuries reported. Officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

If you plan on heading to local waterways in the near future, be prepared for lots of floating debris, very swift currents due to high water and cold water temperatures. The Oregon State Marine Board urges boaters to select a waterway that matches their skill levels, so they don't wind up getting in over their heads. The Marine Board advises boaters to plan ahead and check out their interactive boating access map. The map displays public boat ramps and local rules for boat operations. Also, check the weather forecast, water levels and tides. See if there are any reported obstructions and have the right gear for your boating activity. Oregon boaters are reminded that all children under 12 are required to wear a life jacket when underway on all boats -- motorized or non-motorized. All boaters in Class 3 whitewater rivers are required to wear a life jacket. Be courteous to other boaters and share the waterway. Stage your gear in the parking lot or staging area regardless of your boat type. This makes launching faster and everyone around you happier. In Oregon, all boaters must take a boating safety course and carry a boating safety education card when operating a powerboat greater than 10 horsepower. Paddlers of non-motorized boats 10 feet and longer are required to purchase a waterway access permit. For more information about safe boating in Oregon, visit "boat.oregon.gov."

 

A routine excursion turned into a life-saving mission last week when a Hellgate Jetboat captain and crew sprang into action to rescue a person found floating in the Rogue River. Last Thursday at about 9:30 a.m., just minutes after departing from the Hellgate Jetboat dock on a scheduled brunch excursion, the captain of the vessel spotted an unusual object in the water while navigating toward Hellgate Canyon. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the object was a human body, floating face-up and motionless. The captain initially feared the worst, but was alerted to possible signs of life. With no hesitation, the captain alerted passengers and maneuvered the boat alongside the individual. With the help from several guests, they secured the person and navigated to the nearest shore for a safe rescue. Determining the woman required immediate medical attention, the captain brought her onboard and stabilized her. The crews requested emergency medical services to be on standby at the dock in Grants Pass. The boat returned to the dock where American Medical Response met the vessel, assisted the woman off the boat and transferred her to a gurney for further medical evaluation. Following the incident, the excursion resumed with all passengers safely reboarded and the boat continuing its journey. Travis Hamlyn, president of Hellgate Jetboat Excursions, said they are incredibly proud of their captain, crew and guests whose swift thinking and teamwork made a critical difference.

 

To reduce the risk of human-caused fires, Bureau of Land Management officials have restricted certain activities on public lands in southwest Oregon. As summer approaches and the weather warms up, fuels are rapidly drying out and firefighters are responding to more fires. Al Mason, Fire Management Officer for the BLM's Medford District, said people should be prepared when they visit public lands this summer. He said to pack a shovel and fire extinguisher and follow the agency's fire restriction orders to help prevent fires. The public use restrictions that went into effect on June 1st include a few small steps you can take to help prevent fires. Smoking is prohibited while traveling except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other designated locations. Power saw users must have a shovel and an 8-ounce or larger fire extinguisher and must maintain a fire watch for at least one hour after saw use. While traveling in a motor vehicle, visitors must have one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2-1/2-pound or larger fire extinguisher. This includes motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. Fireworks are prohibited on BLM public lands along with exploding targets, metal targets and firing tracer or incendiary devices.

 

The Josephine County Budget Committee will focus on departmental funding during its next meeting tomorrow morning. The Budget Committee will hear department presentations from the Sheriff's Office, District Attorney, Public Health, Public Works, Court Facilities and Airports at the 9 a.m. session in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium. In addition to the departments, the budget panel will hear a presentation from the Elected Official Compensation Committee. The public comment period allows each participant three minutes to address the Budget Committee. According to the agenda, the committee will deliberate on the budget if it’s the final meeting. That would include motions to approve the Compensation Committee recommendation, approve the budget and set the tax rate. If it's not the final meeting, the panel will schedule its next meeting and adjourn.

 

Four people were injured in a weekend crash on Rogue River Highway about three miles east of Grants Pass. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision near milepost 3.5 of Highway 99 on Saturday at 5:20 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation determined that a Dodge Caravan driven by 25-year-old Nathen Allen Kent of Grants Pass swerved into the oncoming travel lane and collided head-on with a Toyota Tundra driven by 48-year-old Gary Lane Sauer of Kerby. They said Kent initially fled the scene, but later returned and was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for evaluation. He was not impaired. Sauer and three passengers in the pickup were transported by ambulance to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were towed from the scene. Following the investigation, Kent was cited for Careless Driving and No Insurance.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Coos Bay man for multiple crimes after he caused a weekend collision on Interstate 5 in Sunny Valley and fled the scene. OSP reports troopers responded to a hit-and-run crash and driving complaint on a GMC Sierra driven by 62-year-old Melvin Edward Lesher on I-5 near Sunny Valley Loop on Sunday at 10:44 a.m.. The complainant was identified as a 38-year-old Grants Pass man. He was not hurt. Troopers said they located the suspect vehicle and Lesher was driving recklessly for more than 15 miles. He attempted to elude troopers and they pursued until he wrecked. He bailed out of the pickup and tried to run away, but was Tased and placed into custody. According to OSP, Lesher displayed signs of impairment and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center where a blood warrant was granted and executed. A search of the pickup resulted in the seizure of about three grams of fentanyl. Lesher was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police, Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances, Reckless Driving, Resisting Arrest, Fentanyl Possession and the resulting Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer and his pickup was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested three motorists for impaired driving over the weekend in Josephine County. OSP reports the first incident occurred on Saturday at 3:08 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Silverado driven by 35-year-old Christopher Brousseau of Grants Pass near the intersection of NE Scenic Drive and Scoville Road. Brousseau was stopped for multiple traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. After performing poorly, he was transported to the Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. The second incident happened on Saturday at 4:41 p.m. when troopers responded to an individual who called himself in for drinking and driving near milepost 80 of Interstate 5. Troopers contacted 47-year-old Joseph Godwin of Grants Pass who showed multiple signs of impairment. Godwin refused to participate in field sobriety tests, so he was taken to the Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly four times the legal driving limit. The third incident took place on Sunday at 4:23 p.m. when troopers responded to five complaints about a Ford Fusion driven by 44-year-old Rebecca Maitz of Bakersfield, California, on southbound I-5 near milepost 62. Troopers said Maitz exhibited signs of impairment by narcotics and she performed poorly in sobriety tests.