OSP Responded to Fatal Vehicle vs. Motorcycle Crash, One Arrested
Oregon State Police responded to a fatal vehicle versus motorcycle crash Monday at 9:38 p.m. on Highway 62, near milepost 3, in Jackson County. The investigation indicated a westbound Dodge Ram pickup, operated by Kristin Michelle Cowan, 35, of Medford, struck the rear of a westbound Kawasaki Eliminator motorcycle, operated by John Daren Stribling, 56, of Central Point. Cowan was reportedly uninjured. Stribling and his passenger, Bobbie Lynn Stribling-King, 44, of Central Point, were declared deceased at the scene. The highway was impacted for approximately seven hours during the on-scene investigation. Impairment is considered a primary cause of the crash and the investigation is on-going. Cowan was arrested and lodged in the Jackson County Jail for DUII, Reckless Driving, and Manslaughter charges.
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BCC Approved Pursuance of Drought Declaration, Made Appointments at Workshop
The Board of Commissioners was unanimous in approving Sheriff Dave Daniel's request to move forward with trying to get an emergency drought declaration signed by the governor. The declaration will only run until December 31st. A motion passed 3-0 for the jail to receive funds through communications for adults in custody that go toward facility improvements, in accordance with federal guidelines. The board continued the 1:30 p.m. workshop by moving in favor of appointing Ed Luke to a vacant Fair Board seat, and Public Work's board order to legalize a portion of Caves Camp Road, with the scheduling of a public hearing to come. Finance's IV Business Hub Economic Development Grant Agreement in the amount of $75,000, with progress reports to be made, passed 3-0. A Central Square Invoice passed 2-1, with Commissioner Colene Martin dissenting.
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ODF Southwest Oregon District to Declare Fire Season Friday, May 15th
The Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District will officially declare the start of fire season on Friday, May 15, at 12:01 a.m. According to ODF, the fire danger level will be “Low” (green) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level will be '1'. Lands affected by this declaration include 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city, and Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties. Snowpack across the state and local landscape is minimal, and drought conditions across both counties are contributing to dry vegetation and an increased risk for fires to start and spread earlier in the year. Fire risk and behavior will naturally increase as conditions continue to trend toward warmer summer-like weather. For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Fire Season regulations, call the Grants Pass ODF unit at 541-474-3152, or the Medford Unit at 541-664-3328.
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