Local News

The National Weather Service has extended the high heat warning through Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. High temperatures of 96 to 105 expected in the valleys of western Siskiyou County. Low temperatures will be mainly in the mid-60s.The areas most affected in California are Central Siskiyou County and Western Siskiyou County. In Oregon, Eastern Curry County and Josephine County and Jackson County. This includes the Rogue, Illinois, Scott, Shasta and Klamath River Valleys as well as the communities of Medford, Grants Pass, Ashland, Cave Junction, Yreka, Montague, and Happy Camp.An increased chance of heat related illness for those without access to cooling facilities. Warm overnight temperatures will limit relief from hot daytime temperatures.

 

Oregon Department of Forestry Complex Incident Management Team 3 is in command of a group of lightning fires known as the Grizzly Complex that started July 7th. Monday crews were seeking out and cooling hot spots identified overnight from an infrared flight. Fires showed minimal fire activity along incident perimeters, allowing crews to focus on hazard tree removal and mopping up.Many of the fires have a large number of dead trees, known as hazard trees or snags, that require extra mitigation to reduce safety risks. Crews completed hazard tree removal along roads within the Neil Creek Road and Jim Me Peak fires, allowing easier access for water tenders.Jackson County Sheriff’s Office reduced the Level 2 – Be Set evacuation notices for zones JAC-542, JAC-543, JAC-546, JAC-558 and JAC-559 to a Level 1 – Be Ready notice. Zone JAC-536 remains at a Level 1. One lane of Interstate 5 is closed to protect firefighters between mile markers 8.5 and 10.5 on southbound lanes only. Check tripcheck.com for up-to-date traffic information.Temperatures are expected to remain at or near triple digits this week, which will naturally increase fire activity and risk. The ODF Southwest Oregon District continues suppression efforts on additional fires within the district. Resources remain available to respond to new fire starts within the complex area.For fire local information anytime, visit the district’s Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest or website, www.swofire.com.

 

An unauthorized event on the Rogue River, advertised as a River Glow Float resulted in dangerous accidents in the river. Last Saturday, at 12:16 AM, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office along with three other emergency responders were dispatched to the Robertson Bridge Road and Lower River Road area for a report of a possible drowning. Several hundred people were participating in the nighttime event. During this event, several people between the ages of 5 and 47 years old became trapped on a large log in the river. Some lost their floatation devices, and several did not have their required safety equipment with them. During this incident, numerous people were separated from their groups and reported missing. The Sheriff’s Office Marine Deputy responded and worked with other responders to safely rescue 5 individuals and assisted 7 others with getting to safety. Several miles of the river were checked and no other individuals in need of assistance were located. By the time first responders cleared the scene, all subjects previously reported missing were located and accounted for. As the follow up investigation continues, several citations have been or will be issued as a result of this night float. So far, 13 people have been cited for Unsafe Boating Operation, 2 for Recklessly Endangering, 1 for Disorderly Conduct and 1 for Hosting an Event Without a Permit.

 

The Salvation Army has announced the official groundbreaking of the Hope House Lofts Expansion, a milestone in its mission to support local families and older youth experiencing homelessness. The event will take place Tomorrow at 10:00 AM at 1065 Crews Rd, Medford, and all community members are warmly invited to attend. Every day, families arrive at Hope House with little more than the clothes on their backs and the courage to ask for help. This expansion will add seven fully furnished studio apartments, providing safe, welcoming spaces where hope is restored, and transformation begins. This $1.4 million project has been generously funded by AllCare, Jackson Care Connect, The City of Medford, Emerging Leaders, Junior League, Ben B. Cheney Foundation, Carrico Family Foundation, Pacific Power Foundation, WAFD, West Family Foundation, and many generous individuals and companies in the community. Outlier Construction is serving as the general contractor and has donated substantial resources to the project, along with KSW Architects.Commissioner Colleen Riley, who oversee The Salvation Army’s Western Territory, will be honored guests at this special celebration along with Divisional Commanders Jonathan and Vickie Harvey. Following the ceremony, guests are invited to enjoy complimentary refreshments and learn more about the vision for Hope House Lofts.

 

Women’s Crisis Support Team is honored to be selected as a recipient of a $1,000 Neighborhood Grant from The Starbucks Foundation. This grant recognizes the Crisis Support Team’s work providing lifesaving support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Josephine County and was awarded through the advocacy of a local Starbucks partner. Since 1977 the Women’s Crisis Support Team has served as Josephine County’s primary provider of domestic and sexual violence advocacy services, offering confidential support, safe housing, legal and medical advocacy, housing assistance, prevention education, and rural outreach. The Team partners with schools, law enforcement, and community organizations to build a safer, more connected community. The Neighborhood Grant will support their 24/7 crisis response and emergency shelter programs—ensuring survivors fleeing abuse have access to safe shelter, support, and hope.

 

The report off a man with a pistol in his hand had Grants Pass Police scurrying to the parking lot of Udders Ice Cream Sunday night at 9:45. Officers contacted the suspect, identified as Billy Deiontre Woods, 26, in the parking lot of the business and determined what appeared to be a handgun was a torch lighter which presented as a replica of a Glock firearm.However, Woods was found to be in possession of fentanyl, cocaine, baggies, drug paraphernalia and a scale. Woods was on conditional release and found to be in violation of his release agreement. He was arrested and lodged on charges of contempt of court and possession of fentanyl. All evidence was logged. It was Wood’s third incarceration this year for various charges including trespass, theft II and other possession charges. He remained in custody Monday morning.

 

A Frequent flyer arrested by Grants Pass Police Sunday night for meth possession, his seventh arrest since March for possession of the narcotic. At 10:29 Sunday night a Grants Pass Police officer recognized Christopher Caleb Davis, 42, crossing 7th Street headed toward River City. After confirming Davis was wanted the Officer detained Davis on the warrant for failure to appear on a possession of methamphetamine out on a $10,000 bail. Upon being placed into custody Davis admitted to having meth on his person. A baggie was found during a consent search and confirmed to be methamphetamine. Davis was lodged on the warrant plus the additional charge of possession.The arrest was the 7th arrest since March on several charges including trespass, theft II and unlawful entry into a vehicle, all accompanied by charges of possession.

 

Pilfering a pair of sandals valued at $39.99 sends 51-year-old woman to the Josephine County Jail. Grants Pass Police Officers were summoned to Big 5 Sporting Goods at 7:36 Sunday night with the report of the theft with the suspect still in view of the store. A quick law enforcement response was documented in the Police log noting the suspect was arrested at 8:02 p.m. The suspect, identified as Gennette Elise Hudgins, admitted to the theft after hearing her Miranda rights and was till in possession of the sandals. Hudgins was also in possession of stolen items from Dollar Tree and Grocery Outlet. She was trespassed from all three locations, then lodged in the County Jail on a charge of theft III.

 

A window breaking rampage in downtown Grants Pass lands perpetrator in the county Jail. Grants Pass Police first responded to the report at about 2:09 Saturday morning of a white male adult with no shirt breaking windows downtown. Witnesses observed the man, identified as Matthew Nicholas Emily, 34, walking south on 6th Street throwing rocks through the window of the Josephine County Republican Party, the large window at Umpqua Bank and a window at the Food Studio. Officers located Emily at the corner of 7th and G Street and advised him he was under arrest. Emily resisted, was overcome and transported to the jail where he remains locked up facing three counts of criminal mischief I-Criminal damage and one count of resisting arrest.