Local News

A member of the Josephine County Search and Rescue (SAR) team located human remains believed to be connected to a homicide case. The team member was checking along Reuben Mountain beyond the Grave Creek Bridge Thursday around 12:15pm. Based on observations along the roadside, they suspected human remains were in the area. Due to a lack of cell phone service in the area, the SAR member began driving back towards Merlin to make phone contact with investigators. They came upon Oregon State Police troopers and a Sheriff’s Office deputy at the Galice Resort and relayed their observations. Law enforcement responded to the reported area and traversed down the steep, rugged terrain where the deceased person was located. Detectives from the Oregon State Police, Grants Pass Police Department, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office then responded to the scene with a rope team from Search and Rescue. The rope team was able to successfully recover the deceased person, whom investigators believe to be Randall “Randy” Hecker. However, confirmation will still need to be completed during a pending autopsy with the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office. Next of kin have been notified.

 

Firefighters lined the Canyon Creek spot fire overnight and will continue strengthening fireline throughout the day to hold the East Evans Creek Fire in its current footprint. The Oregon Department of Forestry's latest update reports crews working on the Board Mountain spot fire will continue progress on its fireline. Additional resources are bolstering efforts in the Boswell Mountain area. Structural resources maintained a presence throughout Long Branch Road, Shady Cove, Trail, East Evans Creek Road, West Fork Evans Creek Road, and the Hull Mountain area. Mop- up on the southern edge of the main fire continues along with work to connect portions of the fireline. Structural engines supported wildland suppression efforts by operating high-pressure pump systems, water tenders, and portable water delivery equipment to firefighters working in steep terrain. The fire remains 5% contained and is currently 13,090 acres total. A warming, drying trend will return to the area, along with gusty northwest winds. Fourteen helicopters are assigned to the fire to support ground operations by cooling and slowing fire progression with water drops and providing information on fire movement and spotting.

 

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred in a rural Central Point residence. The suspect is in custody. Wednesday morning, dispatch received a call around 4:05 a.m. of gunshots heard near the 6000 block of Kershaw Road. Deputies responded and found a man deceased from an apparent gunshot wound inside the residence. Next-of-kin has been notified. The victim is Juan Carlos Ramirez-Arango, 62, of Central Point. Evidence collected during the investigation led to the arrest of Pamela Sue Maya, 67, of Central Point. She was in a relationship with the victim. Maya has been charged with second-degree murder and is being held in the Jackson County Jail. Ashland Oregon Police Department and Jackson County District Attorney's Office responded to assist. The Oregon State Police Forensics Lab processed the crime scene. There is no further information available for release at this time.

 

East Evans Creek Firefighters faced another afternoon of windy conditions, but cooler temperatures helped resources hold the fire within its current footprint, with an estimated size of 13,089.8 acres per the Watch Duty app. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, the blaze remains 5% contained. Priority areas on the fire remain where homes and structures are located; today on the Canyon Creek spot fire closest to Shady Cove and Trail, firefighters made progress on both the wildland and structural side, and completely lined the perimeter. Firefighters also focused on the western edge of the main fire and the newest spot fire to the southwest, where homes are nearby. Crews successfully lined the spot fire and continue building line around the main fire, with resources holding the northern flank's completed line. The Board Mountain spot fire is currently lined on the northern section and along both sides. The Tiller-Trail Highway is closed at the county border in Jackson County to Highway 62. Traffic is closed to the public on East Evans Creek Road at Meadows Road. The BLM has issued a road closure for West Fork Evans Creek Road and Rock Creek Road. Please avoid the fire area to allow firefighters and heavy equipment to operate safely.

 

Emergency crews responded to a small vehicle fire was reported this morning on the Redwood Highway and Waldo Road in O'Brien.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District were dispatched around 10:15 a.m. to the reported vehicle fire.

Upon investigation, it was determined that the involved camper experienced a fire on the stove, likely caused by an object falling onto it while the vehicle was in motion.

The driver successfully pulled over and extinguished the fire using a fire extinguisher.

 

Hunters and recreationists who plan to use the Jackson Cooperative Travel Management Area are reminded that the private and even some public lands will be limited this summer and fall depending on the declared fire risk.

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, this will affect early season scouting activities and the first part of the fall bear season beginning August 1st, but will be re-evaluated as archery season nears.

With the current fire risk, all private lands within the travel management area are currently closed. Over half of the landlocked public lands within the area are accessed via privately owned and maintained roads and will be affected until conditions improve.

The largest component of closure within the area is the Olson Mountain Tract which is accessed between Cobleigh Road and the Butte Falls-Prospect Highway, including the Medco A & B roads, and Vine Maple Mainline from the east.

Southwest and south of the town of Butte Falls, the Gephert Butte Road, Hukill Creek Road, Lower Beekman and the connector road between Hukill Creek Road and Medco Sec 15 Spur are currently closed until conditions improve.

There are a few mainline public easement roads that will still remain open, however, hunters are asked not to leave the public roadways, and access to the private lands within the area remains closed until conditions improve. Visit www.ofic.com/land-closures to find specific landowners.

 

Three suspects were contacted at Resting Site 7 and cited for drug related charges early this morning.

Grants Pass Police took a woman into custody on a detainer around 5:18 a.m. in the 712 NE 7th Street site. She was identified as Seryne Martin, and officers detained a male suspect, Thaddeous Plummer, two minutes later.

He was observed in the resting site about to smoke a substance off of foil. A pipe he had in his possession tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine, and he was cited for Meth Possession.

Martin was arrested and then cited for possessing drug paraphernalia. Both she and Plummer were issued 30 day exclusion orders from the site.

Another suspect, Benjamin Pires, was also cited at the scene for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Officers issued him a 30 day exclusion as well. The tent all three of the suspects were in was found to be littered with syringes, burnt foil, and tooters.

 

Grants Pass Fire is notifying residents that the neighborhood canvassing planned for Saturday, July 16th, as part of the community wildfire-mitigation grant program, has been postponed.

This decision comes in response to ongoing fire activity related to the East Evans Creek Fire, which is currently requiring regional attention and resource support. Grants Pass Fire crews and partner agencies are actively engaged in operations to ensure community safety, and postponing non-essential activities will help maintain focus where it is most needed.

A new date for neighborhood canvassing will be announced once conditions stabilize and staffing levels return to normal. For updates, follow official communications from Grants Pass Fire and local emergency management channels.

 

Fire crews overnight worked to limit growth of new spot fires and hold existing fireline on the East Evans Creek Fire, still estimated at about 11,551.4 acres. The Oregon Department of Forestry's morning update reports air tankers were used to slow the growth of the Canyon Creek spot fire while firefighters constructed fireline around its perimeter. Crews worked to establish a control line on the spot fire near Hull Mountain and strengthen the main fire's existing line. Today, efforts to complete the main line will continue. Four additional strike teams of Type 1 engines will arrive today to expand structure protection operations in the Ramsey Creek, Trail, and Shady Cove areas, where firefighters are assessing homes, improving defensible space, and preparing for changing fire conditions. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management have issued the following evacuations by level:
- Evacuation Level 3 Go Now: Zones JAC-017, JAC-109, JAC-124 JAC-126, JAC-127-A, and JAC-149-B.
- Evacuation Level 2 Be Set: Zones JAC-016, JAC-026, JAC-111, JAC-112, JAC-131, JAC-132, JAC-133, JAC-134, JAC-147, JAC-148, and JAC-149-A.
- Evacuation Level 1 Be Ready: Zones JAC-003, JAC-004, JAC-014, JAC-036, and JAC-158, Shady Cove Zones SHC-151, SHC-152, SHC-153, SHC-154, SHC-156, SHC-157, and SHC-158, and Douglas County Zones DOU-1012, and DOU-1015.
Traffic is closed to the public on East Evans Creek Road at Meadows Road. The BLM has issued a road closure for West Fork Evans Creek Road and Rock Creek Road. The Tiller-Trail Highway is closed at the county border in Jackson County to Highway 62. Please avoid the fire area to allow firefighters and heavy equipment to operate safely.