Local News

Rogue Community College has appointed Cass Sinclair as the new executive director of the RCC Foundation, effective October 7th. Sinclair brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, community engagement and strategic planning that will serve the RCC Foundation well as it continues to expand its impact in Southern Oregon. Sinclair joins RCC from Opportunities for Housing, Resources and Assistance (OHRA) in Ashland, where she served as executive director. During her tenure with OHRA, she secured funding for Oregon's first Project Turnkey, overseeing the conversion of a Super 8 motel into a fully-staffed, low-barrier shelter and resource center. Sinclair has demonstrated a passion for addressing community needs and improving lives, qualities that align with the missions of RCC and the RCC Foundation. Sinclair earned a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree in human communication from Southern Oregon University.

 

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor Molly Juillerat (jeweler-ah) recently signed a closure order for the Butte Fork Bridge located in the Red Buttes Wilderness. The Butte Fork Bridge closed to the public on October 9th and will remain closed until October 1, 2025, unless rescinded sooner. Removal of the bridge is required due to catastrophic failure from decayed substructures. Since it is located in a designated wilderness, minimum impact techniques will be used while dismantling the bride. At this time, it is unclear whether the bridge will be replaced or if a re-route of the trail will be required. The Butte Fork Trail is also expected to be temporarily closed at a later date for required maintenance. In the meantime, the trail will be more difficult to access east of Butte Fork Bridge due to this closure. The Shoofly Trail, also located in the Red Buttes Wilderness, is available an alternate route. The Butte Fork Bridge was originally constructed around 1988 after a pack string tumbled off an existing trail. During construction, Applegate Ranger District employees utilized on-site materials that were felled, de-barked and installed.

 

The Regional Forest Practice Committee for Southwest Oregon will meet at 9 a.m. next Thursday at the Oregon Department of Forestry Office on Monument Drive near Grants Pass. The committee's agenda includes division updates, Operator of the Year discussion and voting, Forest Practice Technical Guidance development and stream flow permanence update, E-Notification System changes, Forest resources training strategy and compliance monitoring update. Regional Forest Practices Committees are panels of citizens -- mandated under Oregon law -- that advise the Oregon Board of Forestry on current forestry issues and forest management approaches. Under Oregon law, a majority of the committees' members must be private forest landowners and logging or forest operations companies. Oregon's forests are among the state's most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic and social benefits. The public may attend the meeting in-person or online via Zoom. Public comments will be accepted

 

The Grants Pass Police Department will host the next "Battle of the Badges" Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday. "Battle of the Badges" is a friendly competition between Grants Pass police officers and Grants Pass firefighters with the goal of collecting blood donations for the Red Cross. The event is set for Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at GPPD headquarters, 726 NE 7th Street. Please show your support for either agency by telling Red Cross volunteers you are there to donate blood on behalf of the department of your choice.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man late yesterday for threatening another man with a knife at the new designated campground on NE 7th Street. The Police Department reports officers arrested 36-year-old Aaron Wesley Storms at the campsite located next to GPPD headquarters on Thursday at 5:14 p.m.. Police said they responded to reports that Storms was chasing another man while armed with a large knife. The weapon was described by witnesses as a buck knife with a brown and gold handle and a long straight blade. No reason was given for the incident, but there were no injuries reported. Upon arrival, officers contacted and disarmed Storms before placing him into custody. The knife was seized as evidence. Storms was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail. A charge of Attempted 2nd-Degree Assault was forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for beating up an elderly man in the downtown area yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a reported assault in the 200-block of NW 6th Street on Thursday shortly after 1 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined 44-year-old Nicholas John Knox Knowles became engaged in an argument with a 72-year-old man. The argument escalated when the suspect pushed the victim, knocking him down, before he punched the man in the face. The one-sided fight was broken up by a witness. The reporting party stayed with the bleeding victim until medics arrived to treat the patient. Knowles was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment and Disorderly Conduct plus the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Knowles has been arrested eight times for violating his post-prison supervision since October of last year.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a female felon for her outlandish behavior in downtown Cave Junction yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a disturbance in the 100-block of South Redwood Highway on Thursday during the noon hour. Deputies said a student at the Kalmiopsis Community Arts High School and a bank employee both called 9-1-1 to report the incident involving 47-year-old Crystal Mae Lucas. They reported the female subject was screaming at children and making threats to hurt them. She was also being rude to other citizens in the area. According to the report, deputies contacted Lucas who told them people were throwing rocks at her. However, there was no one near her and she was not hurt, so she was detained. Her corrections officer was contacted and the officer wanted her to be arrested. Lucas was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. She was being held on a no-bail detainer. She was also trespassed from the school and the bank.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for her boorish behavior in the vicinity of a local gas station-convenience store yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a disturbance at the Arco AM/PM on NE Terry Lane on Thursday at 10:22 a.m.. Police said 32-year-old Chantal Roseann Haney refused to leave the Arco property multiple times after she attempted to head-butt an employee three times. They said she was also causing public alarm by screaming and arguing with the employee. A short time later, she argued with two other people while holding a corkscrew/knife in her hand across the street from Arco next to Taco Bell. Officers arrived on scene and immediately placed Haney into custody. She was lodged in jail without bail for Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for multiple crimes yesterday following a 9-1-1 investigation. According to the Police Department, the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received several emergency calls from a home in the 800-block of Bower Lane so officers responded to investigate. Police said the residence had a 9-1-1 call from earlier in the day with a false report of an active burglary. The call was unfounded and the caller was not located. A short time later, officers contacted 20-year-old Logan M. Diaz outside the home and he denied making the false burglary call. The man showed officers the call history on his phone that showed three prior calls to 9-1-1 related to the referenced case. Dispatch showed the prior case having the same number that called for help. Diaz's phone did not have a service plan and could only be used to call 9-1-1. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct and Improper Use of 9-1-1. He was being held without bail.