Local News

A California truck driver escaped serious injury when he wrecked a commercial vehicle on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 73 on Wednesday night. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicates a 26-year-old man from Tracy, California, was driving a Freightliner and pulling a trailer when the front left tire gave out, he lost control and struck the guardrail. The semi then rolled onto its driver-side and completely blocked both southbound lanes of the freeway. According to OSP, the driver sustained minor injuries, but he refused medical treatment. Both the truck and trailer were towed to Grants Pass. No citations were issued for the wreck, which occurred at a notoriously sharp corner near Smith Hill Summit.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District had a busy day yesterday while responding to a trash fire, a traffic accident and a grass fire by late afternoon. On Thursday at 3:35 a.m., IVFD crews responded to a trash fire in a dumpster in the 200-block of South Redwood Highway in Cave Junction. The fire was quickly extinguished and the cause was under investigation. On Thursday at 1:58 p.m., IVFD, American Medical Response, Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Transportation were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on Redwood Highway at Draper Valley Road in Selma. Arriving units found a damaged vehicle off the side of the road. The female driver had self-extricated from the wreck and was not seriously hurt. ODOT conducted traffic control and OSP was conducting an investigation. On Thursday at 4:13 p.m., IVFD and the Oregon Department of Forestry rushed to a grass fire in the 25,600-block of Redwood Highway near Cave Junction. The small fire was quickly put out and the cause was under investigation.

 

A new country-rock band featuring two Jackson County sheriff's deputies has been making the rounds at "live" music venues in the Rogue Valley. "Bridge 222" features the deputies on vocals, keyboard and guitar as well as a bass player from another local law enforcement agency, plus a drummer. The band will play during an Almeda Fire benefit this Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the ETHOS Academy in Phoenix. It's located at 4414 South Pacific Highway. The benefit will honor Almeda Fire first responders and their families. The event features "live" music, Mexican food, corn hole, axe-throwing, a raffle and more. "Bridge 222" started playing together last November and they play mostly covers of country, rock and pop music. They are starting to write original music as well. This will be the band's third "live" concert and it's for a great cause.

 

The public still has time to provide comments about both the draft statewide wildfire hazard map and proposed administrative rules associated with the map. The Oregon Department of Forestry said these public comment opportunities are among the last steps before the release of the final wildfire hazard map in October. According to ODF, the proposed administrative rules will be used by Oregon State University to address how irrigated lands are considered when assessing hazards for the state map and they will establish the process for appealing a hazard zone or wildland-urban interface designation. Public hearings were held virtually last week, but additional written comments can be sent to "maprules@odf.oregon.gov" until 5 p.m. on August 15th. Input received will be shared with the Board of Forestry prior to their decision on whether to adopt the rules. Please state which rule you're commenting on in your e-mail. Draft versions of the state wildfire hazard and wildland-urban interface maps are available on OSU's Wildfire Risk Explorer website. These drafts reflect revisions based on public and county government input received over the last two years. Comments on the draft map can be sent to "hazardmap@odf.oregon.gov" until 5 p.m. on August 18th.

 

Grants Pass Fire & Rescue has acquired a new Type 3 wildland engine from the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM). Grants Pass Deputy Fire Chief Joe Hyatt said the International cab, Type 3 pumper is designed for rapid wildland fire extinguishment as well as urban response. He said it comes with 1,000 gallon per minute and auxiliary pump capabilities, plus a 750-gallon water tank, making it suitable for both urban and rural calls. OSFM will retain ownership of the engine while Grants Pass will handle housing, staffing, responding, insuring and maintaining the apparatus for three years. Hyatt said they are currently outfitting the engine and undergoing training with it. He said they anticipate having it in service and ready to respond to fires very soon. Acquisition of the new apparatus was made possible through the Oregon State Fire Marshal Engine Program funded by Oregon Senate Bill 762, which was passed by the State Legislature in 2021. Local agencies had the option to request a Type 6 wildland engine, a Type 3 wildland engine or a tactical tender. A total of seven of the OSFM apparatus are coming to the Rogue Valley.

 

Day 3 of the Josephine County Fair will be "Rockin' the 80s" at the Fairgrounds in Grants Pass today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.. In addition to free admission at the gate, tonight's headlining "Ikons of Rock" concert in the Grandstands is now offering free general admission seating thanks to a sponsorship from Grants Pass Toyota. It starts at 8 p.m.. Anyone who previously purchased general admission tickets will be automatically upgraded to VIP seating for free. VIP seats are limited, but still available for $30. The Arena Rock Legends performance is the ultimate show. Experience the music of all the big "hair bands" that defined an era all in one performance. Experience rock stars like Kiss, Def Leppard, Heart, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett, Van Halen, Lita Ford, Ozzy Osbourne, Pat Benatar, Foo Fighters, Blondie and more. Paid parking at the Fairgrounds is limited, but there is free parking and a shuttle service offered at Rogue Community College. For more information, visit "josephinecountyfairgrounds.com."

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple crimes after he broke into a vehicle and tried to steal it from a downtown business early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers tracked down and arrested the 45-year-old male subject identified as "Justin John Morton" on Wednesday morning after he tried to steal a vehicle from Active Home Furnishings at 605 SE 7th Street. Police said the incident was called in at 7:14 a.m. by an employee of People's Bank of Commerce who witnessed the crime from a top-floor window. The caller reported the subject was rummaging through a blue truck, breaking it apart and scattering items all over the roadway. A description of the suspect was given to officers who eventually located him in an alley between J and K streets. Officers told the suspect to stop, but he ran away from them while screaming obscenities. He ran across the street and up onto the hood of a patrol vehicle that was involved in the chase. He then jumped down from the vehicle and walked toward officers with clenched fists. A Taser was deployed to place him into custody, but he continued to scuffle with police after he was handcuffed. Morton was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Petty Theft. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man late yesterday for harassing and threatening his ex-wife in order to see their children. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 27-year-old male subject on Wednesday at 5:36 p.m. in the 1300-block of Caves Highway in Cave Junction. Deputies said the subject was reported to be driving back in forth in front of the female victim's Grants Pass residence while threatening to kill the mother of his children. They said he was driving a silver 2022 Chevrolet pickup and he was reportedly armed with a shotgun and/or an assault rifle. According to the report, the man currently has an open case in Yamhill County. He is allowed to have contact with his ex-wife, but may not have contact with the kids. After speaking with both the suspect and the victim, deputies learned the suspect drove past the victim's house at least a dozen times the night before and threatened to shoot her after a verbal dispute on the phone that she recorded. The suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Menacing and Contempt of Court. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for intentionally starting a small fire on the east side of the city late last night. According to the Police Department, officers and firefighters responded to the grass fire at the corner of the Grants Pass Parkway and NE Agness Avenue around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said a passing motorist called 9-1-1 to report a male subject lighting a bush on fire, breaking a branch off the burning bush and walking toward the Elmer's restaurant. The subject dropped the branch in the middle of the road and began walking toward the caller's vehicle, so the caller drove away. Officers and firefighters were successful in putting out a small fire near the River City BMX track as the 33-year-old man walked away. He attempted to flee the scene on foot, but was captured in the intersection and placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Arson, Resisting Arrest and Escape plus Felony Parole Violation related to convictions for Forgery and Theft. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.