Local News

If you've recently burned debris in piles or a burn barrel, now is a good time to check it again. The Oregon Department of Forestry says old burns can easily reignite in warm and windy weather -- even days to months later. During our warm forecast this week, check your pile or barrel with the back of your hand and feel for any heat. You can even hose it down again for good measure. Every spring, ODF Southwest responds to debris burns that flare up in warm weather and spread in Josephine and Jackson counties. Help ODF prevent spring fires by checking your burn today.

 

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) are reminding the public that starting Wednesday, May 7th, every air traveler 18 years of age and older must have a REAL ID-compliant state-issued driver's license, instruction permit or identification card or another acceptable form of ID to board a US commercial aircraft. To determine if an Oregon driver's license or identification card is REAL ID-complaint, look for a star in the upper right corner. The presence of the star indicates the credential is REAL ID-compliant. Once enforcement begins, travelers who do not have a REAL ID-compliant state-issued credential or another acceptable form of ID can expect delays when they arrive at the TSA security checkpoint. The length of the delay will be determined by the number of other travelers who do not have a REAL ID-compliant credential or another form of identification accepted by TSA for identity verification. Passengers can avoid delays in their air travel by ensuring their identification credential is REAL ID-compliant or be prepared to present another acceptable form of ID. TSA has a full list of acceptable forms of identification beyond a state-issued driver's license or ID card that can be presented at the security checkpoint.

 

In recognition of Earth Day, the Oregon College Savings Plan and BottleDrop are pleased to announce that Oregonians have now saved $2 million for future higher education expenses through the convenient redemption of bottles and cans. Since the program's launch in November 2019, nearly 7,000 Oregon families have used bottle collection funds to build college savings. This first-in-the nation program gives Oregonians the opportunity to leverage their commitment to environmental stewardship to support pathways to higher education. The program offers a convenient way for individuals and families across the state to transform their Oregon Bottle Bill container refunds into valuable savings for higher education. Participants can easily establish automatic transfers from their BottleDrop account into one or more Oregon College Savings Plan accounts. To date, this collaboration has facilitated the recycling of a remarkable 20 million beverage containers, directly contributing to the educational savings of thousands of Oregon families. BottleDrop account holders enjoy the flexibility to save for their own education, the education of their children or grandchildren, or even contribute as a gift to any Oregon College Savings Plan (OCSP) account.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry is planning a two-day prescribed fire project with the town of Butte Falls to further hazard fuel mitigation efforts in the area. The project is scheduled to take place today and Thursday, with the burns starting in the morning and lasting into the afternoon both days, pending smoke potential and weather condition approvals. ODF plans to conduct the burns off West Hukill Creek -- located west of Butte Falls -- completing approximately 70 acres of fuel mitigation with the assistance of Grayback Forestry. This project is part of Butte Falls' Community Forest Project. Following the devastating 2020 wildfires, the town purchased 430 acres of adjacent forestland with numerous goals in mind including wildfire mitigation. Since then, ODF has provided assistance including fuel reduction efforts and pile burning last spring. If conditions are favorable for the burns to take place, light smoke may be visible in the air in and around the Rogue Valley. Additional rain in the forecast on Friday and Saturday will naturally help to clear out any remaining smoke.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a well-known criminal offender for multiple crimes after she caused a dangerous disturbance in the south part of the city late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers deployed a Taser multiple times in order to subdue and arrest 32-year-old Whitney Ann Word in the 1200-block of Plummer Avenue on Monday at 6:08 p.m.. Police said Word was the subject of multiple complaints of a woman walking down the middle of Ringuette Street and forcing vehicles to go around her. She was actively impeding traffic and displaying signs consistent with narcotics use when they arrived on scene. Officers established probable cause to arrest Word, but she fled on foot and began attempting to enter several occupied vehicles while placing civilians at serious risk. The suspect failed to comply with lawful commands, so officers deployed a Taser three times with no effect. Two additional probes were deployed which achieved neuromuscular incapacitation and she was placed into custody. Word was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Attempted Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Escape. She was being held without bail. The Oregon State Police reported taking Word to Three Rivers Medical Center earlier in the day after she was obstructing traffic in the East Jones Creek area.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on a statewide felony warrant yesterday after she caused a disturbance at a city park. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 39-year-old Ciera Michelle Lokken at Reinhart Volunteer Park on Monday around 1 p.m.. Police said Lokken was initially reported to be yelling and acting disorderly at Tussing Park before she crossed the pedestrian-bicycle bridge to the All Sports Park where she was contacted. She was found to be wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a past conviction for an unspecified weapons offense. Lokken was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Her property -- including a bicycle -- was logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on two local warrants following a weekend complaint of strange and possibly dangerous antics in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 37-year-old Brian P. Stack at People's Bank of Commerce on SE 7th Street on Sunday at 5:45 a.m.. Police said witnesses reported a male subject with a plastic trash bag over his head who was trying to light something on fire while singing and acting very strange. The man was not wearing any shoes and it was believed he was likely under the influence of narcotics. Responding officers contacted Stack and discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court on three counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was also wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Petty Theft and Methamphetamine Possession. After the warrants were confirmed, Stack was lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Community Corrections client for violating terms of his probation following a welfare check in the downtown area yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to reports of a male subject flailing his arms and yelling in the 200-block of SE H Street at 1:10 p.m. Monday. Police said citizens requested a welfare check on 38-year-old Kelcey Edwin Cummings as he appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic stimulant. Callers told dispatchers the man was conscious and breathing, but acting incoherent. Responding officers contacted Cummings, confirmed he was under the influence of drugs and that he appeared to have an infection. Medics responded and checked him out, advising that he was at Three Rivers Medical Center the night before and had been prescribed antibiotics. Cummings' corrections officer was contacted and they requested that he be placed on a detainer. He was lodged in jail without bail for Probation Violation related to recent arrests for 2nd-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving following a weekend welfare check in the north part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a silver Lexus EX300 driven by 37-year-old Codie Breanne Riddick on NW 6th Street north of Jackson Street on Saturday afternoon. Police said Riddick was called in as a welfare check near News & Smokes on NE 6th Street and she drove away from that location. A caller reported she was inside the food pod area off NE 7th Street and a bottle of whiskey was seen inside the car. Riddick was stopped for failing to signal a lane change and she displayed signs of impairment. She was placed into custody after performing poorly in field sobriety tests. Riddick was lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Endangering as there was another person in the vehicle. She was also cited for No Operator's License and No Insurance.