Local News

The Oregon State Police cited or warned a motorist for using a cellphone while driving after he crashed his vehicle on Williams Highway near Murphy yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle rollover crash near milepost 7 of Highway 238 on Wednesday at 4:54 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation showed a 35-year-old man was driving a Ford Focus east on the highway while manipulating a cellphone with his hand. As the driver was placing the phone back in its carrier, he left the travel lane, overcorrected and rolled. He was self-extricated upon the arrival of rescue crews. According to OSP, the driver was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries. The heavily-damaged car was towed into Grants Pass. Following the investigation, the driver was either cited or warned for Distracted Driving.

 

Grants Pass Police cited two women for ordinance violations at a downtown city campground early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers performed a patrol check at the designated campsite at the corner of 6th and A streets early Wednesday morning. Officers cited one woman for violating campground rules by tying items to the fence and another woman for scattering rubbish. Both had been previously warned. A total of 19 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to United Community Action Network (UCAN). Another camper was warned for possessing a shopping cart. Two shopping carts were returned to the downtown Safeway.

 

The Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) of Jackson County raided a black-market cannabis grow in rural Jacksonville last week. In a Wednesday afternoon press release, IMET reports detectives served a search warrant on September 19th at an illegal marijuana growing operation in a heavily forested area off Yale Creek Road south of Jacksonville. Detectives said the property was littered with piles of trash, broken-down cars, tires, fertilizers, chemicals and other environmental hazards. The grow was also illegally siphoning water from a nearby creek on US Forest Service land. During execution of the warrant, IMET seized nearly 4,000 illegal marijuana plants and six firearms. There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling or processing at the remote location. The team was assisted by the Jackson and Josephine County Sheriff's offices as well as the Oregon State Police. Two suspects were detained and charges of Felony Marijuana Manufacture and Possession were referred to the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. Law enforcement also found evidence of suspected poaching at the scene, which was turned over to the OSP Fish & Wildlife Division for potential prosecution. During the search, Jackson County Code Enforcement responded and issued a total of $25,000 in fines to two separate landowners for several violations. The Oregon Water Resources Department also responded to investigate the property's water usage. A Notice of Violation was issued to the responsible parties for unauthorized appropriation of water from a tributary of Yale Creek.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended an Illinois Valley man on a statewide felony warrant after responding to an assault complaint in Cave Junction this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 60-year-old Dominic Gilbert Rivera in the 100-block of North Junction Avenue on Tuesday night. Deputies said a man called 9-1-1 after Rivera threatened him at his business and then followed him home, shoved him and told him that if he didn't move, he would be killed. The caller said it has been an ongoing issue between the two men since a prior unspecified incident. Rivera was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for 4th-Degree Assault. He was placed into custody after deputies were advised that an officer safety alert had been entered on him. Rivera was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for stealing a washer and dryer set from a business in the southeast part of the city this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint in the 900-block of SE M Street on Tuesday afternoon. Police said 43-year-old Shylo Ann Kinchela was observed on video surveillance loading an Electrolux washer and dryer set valued at $1,528 into the back of her truck with assistance from a man and woman. The truck and stolen items were located by the victim a short time later at a residence on SE Clarey Avenue. According to the report, Kinchela admitted to stealing the items and altering the license plate on her truck to make it harder for law enforcement to find. She was placed into custody while the stolen washer and dryer were returned to the victim. Kinchela was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Theft. She was also cited for Driving While Suspended.

 

The Oregon State Police is reporting a motorist whose vehicle became disabled on Interstate 5 in the North Valley area was broken into earlier this week. OSP reports troopers were notified of the car-clouting incident that occurred on Monday night in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 65. Troopers said a 30-year-old man was driving a white Jeep when it broke down and he left it on the side of the freeway. Sometime late Monday night, someone broke into the vehicle and stole an estimated $2,000 worth of personal belongings. According to OSP, the Jeep owner called 9-1-1 when he returned to retrieve his vehicle and found it had been entered. There is no suspect information at this time. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to dial *OSP.

 

The Rogue River City Council convenes this evening for what appears to be a relatively short meeting. Following Committee Reports and Public Input, there are only three items of New Business on the Council agenda. The City Council is set to approve Mayor Pam VanArsdale's appointment of City Administrator Ryan Nolan as the voting delegate representing Rogue River at the League of Oregon Cities annual conference. The Council will also review and provide a local government recommendation for a liquor license application from Taproots Nursery. The panel is also scheduled to accept the September 12th minutes of the 2024 Tree City USA Committee. Tonight's meeting starts at 6 at Rogue River City Hall, 133 Broadway Street. A Council-Planning Commission Workshop will take place next Tuesday at 10 a.m.. The agenda includes parking reform. There will be discussion regarding the Rogue River Municipal Code plus a review of required parking standards and exemption requests.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a supplemental budget for the current fiscal year. During a public hearing before the 3-0 vote, County Finance Director Sandy Novak testified no new expenses or revenue are reflected in the revised budget. She said insurance payment covering the Sheriff's Office that has been made from the General Fund is being shifted to the local law enforcement agency's budget. In other business, the Board dissolved a task force and two committees that have served their intended functions and are no longer necessary. They included the COVID-19 Relief Funds Task Force, the Fire Protection Committee and the Advisory Committee on Forestry Affairs. The Commissioners voted 2-0 to appoint Robert Stumbo to the Mining Advisory Committee. Board Chair John West did not vote to avoid a possible conflict of interest. During the Public Comment period, the Board heard continued complaints about defunding the 4-H Extension Service District. One woman stated representatives from the Master Gardeners program did not attend a recent forum because they are no longer supported by the OSU Extension. The same woman said Josephine County missed an opportunity to host a state youth sport-shooting event in 2025.

 

Total payroll employment in Jackson County rose by 440 jobs in August. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 103,514 people working in Jackson County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 4.6%, which was down slightly from 4.7% in July. Retail trade and private education & health services had the largest private-sector gains over the month. Small increases were noted in construction; transportation, warehousing & utilities; and financial activities. Industries with estimated job losses in August were leisure & hospitality, manufacturing, and other services. Government had a net gain of 140 jobs over the month, with an increase of 160 in local government education and a slight loss of 20 jobs in federal government. Over the past year, payroll employment in Jackson County rose by 740 jobs, an increase of 0.8%. Since August 2023, industries adding jobs were private education & health services (+1,160) and retail trade (+80). Industries with over-the-year losses included manufacturing (-320), financial activities (-170), leisure & hospitality (-160), professional & business services (-150), construction (-150), and other services (-30).