Local News

Authorities are investigating a fatal dog attack that occurred last weekend near Cave Junction. On Saturday at 1:31 p.m., the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call from a home in the 1800-block of Laurel Road where it was reported a dog attacked a 4-year-old girl. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded along with personnel from the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response. Despite lifesaving measures being administered, the child was pronounced deceased at the scene. The child's name will not be released. Undersheriff Travis Snyder said the Sheriff's Office began a death investigation with assistance from the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office. He said the dog -- a Cane Corso/Rottweiler/Pit Bull mix -- was seized by Josephine County Animal Control. The case remains under investigation and no further information is available at this time.

 

A Medford man drowned while kayaking at Agate Lake outside Eagle Point last weekend. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports the 9-1-1 call came in on Saturday at 7:48 p.m. to report a 27-year-old man fell into the lake while kayaking without a life jacket. Marine deputies responded with Jackson County Fire Districts #3 and #4. First responders searched the lake until after 10 p.m., but they were unable to locate the victim. On Sunday morning, marine units along with the Search and Rescue dive team and Klamath County sheriff's deputies resumed the search. At 7:34 a.m., divers located the body of the missing man in the lake. The Sheriff's Office said they will not be releasing the victim's name out of respect for his family's privacy in this difficult time.

 

One person was injured after wrecking their vehicle off a Forest Service Road near Cave Junction early yesterday. The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, US Forest Service, Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Transportation were all dispatched to the single-vehicle crash at milepost 15 of Forest Service Road 4613 on Monday at 6:58 a.m.. IVFD officials said the vehicle was located approximately 30 feet below the road's surface. One individual was successfully extricated from the wreckage and brought up the embankment using a rope system. The individual sustained minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment. Jerry's Towing was assigned to remove the vehicle from the scene and haul it to Cave Junction.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after she crashed her vehicle into a house in the southeast part of the city last weekend. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews responded to the incident in the 1500-block of Ben Aire Circle on Sunday around 5:45 p.m.. Upon arrival, police said they observed a blue Chevrolet Cruze in a front yard with the front end of the vehicle inside the wall of a house. They identified the driver as 56-year-old Deana Lynn Calver and said she displayed strong signs of impairment. According to the report, Calver had an odor of alcohol coming from her breath and bloodshot, watery eyes. She had trouble standing and answering questions, and she refused to participate in field sobriety tests or provide a breath sample. A search warrant was obtained and Calver was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that fully documented her impairment. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. Her vehicle was impounded.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving following a weekend traffic stop in the south part of the city. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a Ford Fusion driven by 33-year-old Brian Kenneth Van Dusen in the 300-block of Union Avenue on Sunday at 1:18 a.m.. Deputies said they stopped Van Dusen for traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. Based on the evidence, Van Dusen was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle and two passengers were released to a family member.

 

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has announced a temporary 10-day closure in the vicinity of Huckleberry Mountain. If you're planning on camping in a High Cascades Ranger District campground between August 22nd and 31st -- including Labor Day weekend -- a few areas will be closed. The US Forest Service reports several campgrounds will be open during the closure including Union Creek, Natural Bridge, Jim Creek, River Bridge, Mill Creek, South Fork and Farewell Bend. Some dispersed camping sites will also be available.

 

The Grants Pass City Council is in favor of adding 12 positions to the police and fire departments as soon as possible. During its workshop on Monday, the City Council informally voted unanimously to create six new positions for both agencies at an estimated cost of $1.83 million. City Manager Aaron Cubic presented two options to the Council. The first would add seven full-time public safety positions -- four for GPPD and three for GP Fire & Rescue. But Council members agreed that public safety is their first priority and budget cuts may have to be made in order to fund the 12 additional positions. Another consideration was improving the city fire department's ISO rating to "1," which could significantly lower fire insurance premiums for residents and business owners. A final vote on the public safety staffing increase is set for September 3rd. In other business, the City Council tabled a request from Main Street Grants Pass to provide $100,000 in funding for its staffing and operations. The organization currently has only 11 members and the panel wants to see more participation. The Council approved a $3,000 funding request for the painting of murals in the Redwood Alley. The Committee on Public Art previously requested $15,000 for a mural, but the committee came back with a proposal to take three murals that will have to be removed due to the Owl Parking Lot Project and put them in the alley. The artist is willing to repaint them for a total of $6,000, with private donations picking up half of the cost.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a public hearing on a lease application from a locally-owned mineral research property development company during its weekly business session this week. American Mineral Research (AMR) last week published a 14-page story about their 5-1/2-year journey researching a Josephine County Forestry property east of Wolf Creek which contains a storied gold mine. AMR previously filed a lawsuit against Josephine County due to the Board of Commissioners not acting on the company's lawful mining lease application submitted in May 2023. In June, the lawsuit was settled in AMR's favor, requiring the Commissioners to hold a public hearing and make a decision on the application before the end of this month. The hearing was set for this Thursday at 10 a.m.. AMR officials believe Josephine County can earn over $400,000 in royalties each year to help fund law enforcement. While most revenues will come from gold production, the company also seeks to produce rare minerals such as Tellurium, which is used in building high-efficiency solar panels and other technology.

 

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Grants Pass and Josephine County Joint Bikeways & Walkways Committee due to an expiring term. This is a three-year appointment. The purpose of the Bikeways & Walkways Committee is to seek input from the community, coordinate and disseminate information for public education about biking and walking routes and rules, and serve as a resource and advisory group regarding bicycle and pedestrian trails for the City and County. Applicants for this open position must be residents of the City of Grants Pass who represent the interests of bikers and walkers. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, October 3rd. Applications will be reviewed by the Committee on Tuesday, October 14th. The Grants Pass City Council will make the appointment at its regular meeting on Wednesday, November 5th.