Local News

Rogue Community College is inviting future students, families and community members to explore college options at three free open house events in August.

The events are designed to help people discover how RCC can fit into their lives, be they finishing high school, starting a new career, changing jobs, or returning to school after years away.

Open house events will be held at all three RCC campuses. The first will take place Tuesday, August 18th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Riverside Campus in the Higher Education Center. Thursday, August 20th, there will be an open house in the A Building of the Table Rock Campus from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The final open house will be held in the Wiseman Center at the Redwood Campus Tuesday, August 25th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can tour campus, meet instructors, explore career programs, attend program information sessions and learn about admissions, registration, financial aid, scholarships, grants and payment options.

Program spotlights will include business, computer technology, dental programs, early childhood education and manufacturing. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at roguecc.edu/openhouse.

Registration is open now for fall term. Classes begin Sept. 28. For more information, email recruitment@roguecc.edu or call 541-956-7217.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office detained a man wanted for multiple Encouraging Child Sex Abuse charges.

Deputies located the suspect in the 100 block of Deer Creek Road outside a nearby Ray's Food Place Monday around 8:05 p.m. He was located on the gravel side of the grocer and was identified as Gabriel Harrison.

He was wanted on a warrant out of the Sheriff's Office for 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree. Deputies took Harrison into custody and transported him to the Adult Jail Facility for lodging.

 

Oregon State Police responded to a fatal vehicle-versus-elk crash Saturday at approximately 4:42 a.m. The preliminary investigation indicated a white Kia Spectra, operated by Hilver Randolfo Perez Interiano, 51, of Grants Pass, was traveling eastbound on Highway 234 near Antioch Road near Eagle Point when it struck a large cow elk in the roadway. After striking the elk, the vehicle continued eastbound until it left the roadway and struck a tree on the westbound shoulder. Perez Interiano was pronounced deceased at the scene. A passenger in the Kia, Eyda Ortiz Perez, 42, of Grants Pass, was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The highway was closed for approximately four hours during the on scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Mercy Flights, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry's Southwest Oregon District will increase the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) to Level 3 effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, August 5th. The Fire Danger Level will remain at Extreme. The change is due to critically dry fuels, numerous recent fire responses across southwest Oregon, and a forecast of above-normal temperatures, low relative humidity, and gusty winds this week, resulting in multiple Red Flag Warnings being issued. High temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees in many locations, increasing the potential for new fire starts and rapid fire growth. These regulations apply to the 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city, and Bureau of Land Management lands protected by ODF's Southwest Oregon District. Current public use restrictions remain unchanged under the Extreme Fire Danger Level. These include the prohibited usage of power saws, cutting, grinding, and welding of metal, mowing of dry or dead grass, and the operation of any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine.

 

The I-5 MM 57 NB Fire remains at 8% containment, and firefighters have successfully held the blaze at 100 acres following overnight work. The Oregon Department of Forestry's latest update reports crews strengthened control lines with a double mop up depth of about 200 feet. Strong progress was made knocking down remaining hotspots ahead of today’s Red Flag conditions, including gusty winds and low humidity. Today's efforts are focused on keeping the fire secure within established containment lines while mop-up on steep terrain continues. Resources assigned to the fire include eight 20-person hand crews, five Type 6 engines, two Type 3 engines, three water tenders, one dozer, three skid units, one falling module, and a reconnaissance flight, with additional aircraft available as needed. A Temporary Flight Restriction remains in effect over the fire area to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft. Firefighters will also be working along Interstate 5 throughout the day. Use extra caution when traveling through the area to help keep both firefighters and the public safe.

 

A fire along Interstate 5 Southbound between Merlin Hill and the north Grants Pass Exit was reported Monday around 3:32 p.m.

The fire immediately threatened two structures and an equipment storage yard. The structures, located in the 3000 block of Highland Ave., included a dog kennel housing 20 pups.

Firefighters from Rural Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire and the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District launched an aggressive attack on the fire from the freeway and Highland Avenue, effectively protecting all structures and containing the fire to approximately 1 acre.

No structures were damaged, and no dogs were harmed. Staff at Canine Club were instrumental in helping protect and shelter the dogs as firefighters mopped up the scene. The fire is under active investigation by ODF.

 

Fire crews successfully completed 200 feet of mop-up around the entire perimeter of the I-5 MM 57 NB Fire. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, these efforts further strengthened containment efforts on the 100 acre fire. The Watch Duty app shows the fire is 8% contained, and despite continued Red Flag Warning conditions and challenging weather, firefighters held the blaze within its original footprint. Tonight's resources include four 20-person hand crews, one 21-person hand crew, three Type 6 engines, one Type 3 engine, two water tenders, one dozer, three skid units, one falling module, and a reconnaissance flight UAS drone. Overnight humidity recovery is expected to be poor to moderate. As the week continues, hot, dry, and breezy weather will persist, and a Heat Advisory remains in effect from Tuesday through Thursday due to near-record temperatures. Atmospheric instability and smoke from regional wildfires may also affect the area.

 

Grants Pass Police responded to a complaint regarding a man under the influence outside Albertsons Saturday afternoon.

Dispatch was notified the suspect was leaving the parking lot and reportedly extremely inebriated around 4:06 p.m. Officers arrived and identified the suspect as Dillon Frazier. He was told he was under arrest, and became combative with law enforcement.

He was placed in hand cuffs, but he continued resisting by pulling his arms and kicking at officers. Frazier tripped one of them as they were walking to the patrol vehicle, and was transported to jail.

Officers lodged Frazier on charges of Resisting Arrest and Felony Attempted Assault on a Police Officer.

 

Grants Pass City Council voted to move forward with the Caveman Pool reconstruction project through utilization of sole sourcing outside of a competitive bid process. The 11:45 a.m. workshop began with a presentation on the project, with WMS Aquatics proposal covering stabilization of the pool vessel and mechanical room deficiencies. The stabilization remodel option is expected to extend the pool's life beyond 10 years. The proposal is expected to cost almost $1.5 million, if going with sole source, and does not include any additional user features or amenities. Staff was directed by Council to move forward with the project. Next on the agenda was a presentation on Downtown's electric charging stations. Placed back in 2022, one of the four chargers has failed, and replacement parts no longer fit due to a change in design by the supplier. No funds have been set aside to replace the chargers. Possible funding sources include the General Fund, Lands and Buildings Funds, or additional grant resources. The subject was tabled.