Local News

A Friday trespassing complaint at a Cave Junction church led to the apprehension of a fugitive wanted for escaping custody in Washington state. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted 38-year-old Kristle Lynne Smart at Immanuel Methodist Church on West Watkins Street in Cave Junction at about 11 a.m. yesterday. Deputies said Smart was reported to be trespassing at the church and she was found to be wanted on a Washington Department of Corrections warrant for Escape from Community Custody. She was detained and then taken into custody. Smart was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. She was awaiting extradition proceedings that will likely send her back to Washington. She was also trespassed from the church for one year.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended an out-of-state fugitive while investigating a shoplifting complaint at a downtown convenience store early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 45-year-old male subject for the incident at 7-Eleven on SW 6th Street on Friday at about 1:20 a.m.. Police said the man intended to deprive the store of its property when he passed all points of sale with approximately $22 worth of items without paying for them. He was located and detained by the Oregon State Police while officers responded. The suspect's identity was confirmed through dispatch and a routine records check showed that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft. It also showed that he was wanted as a fugitive from another unspecified state. No other details were available. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant along with the new Petty Theft charges. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested three people who were illegally camping on public land earlier this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted the trio during a patrol check at a large transient camp on BLM Road 38-7-21. The transient camp was described as a complete mess, with trash and other items scattered around. Deputies said two of the subjects -- a 55-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman -- were charged with Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and Offensive Littering. They were lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. The other subject -- a 55-year-old man -- was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. He was cited and released due to an unspecified medical condition. According to the report, the BLM property has been the location of several camps in recent years. A few months ago, parts to a stolen airplane were found there.

 

Community members from a variety of backgrounds gathered last month for the 31st annual Southern Oregon University Powwow in Ashland. The SOU Powwow is widely regarded as the largest student-led event on campus. The event -- hosted by the school's Native American Student Union (NASU) -- drew in thousands of visitors to Lithia Motors Pavilion in its second year back on campus after a COVID-19-related hiatus. This year, NASU welcomed more than 10 tribal royalty participants, the largest number of royalty ever in attendance. To become tribal royalty, an individuals is judged at a powwow on aspects like performance, participation and public speaking skills. Once a royalty participant is crowned, they are expected to represent their tribe or tribes by attending public events and stepping into the role of cultural ambassador.

 

New information released this week shows the number of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in Oregon at its lowest point since June 2020, dropping about 34% in April. Additionally, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital intensive care units is at its lowest point since April 2020. Oregon Health Authority data shows 82 adults were hospitalized with COVID-19 on April 30th, six of whom were in the ICU. Test percentage positivity was also at its lowest point (2.4%) since June 2020. OHA officials said COVID-19 is still out there and they expect case numbers to rise again, likely this fall and winter. However, overall community transmission is currently low. Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for OHA's communicable diseases and immunizations, said COVID-19 is still with us and will always be with us. But he thinks there is substantial immunity to a number of variants within our population, and many of us have been vaccinated repeatedly with different variations of the virus. The virus is also far less likely to cause death than it once was. OHA recommends everyone be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination. That includes people ages 65 and over getting a second dose of the 2023-24 vaccine.

 

The US Forest Service has announced it is issuing more than $232 million through the agency's Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program in 2024. SRS includes nearly $63 million in investments to support public schools and roads in the Pacific Northwest Region that encompasses the states of Oregon and Washington. Pacific Northwest Regional Forester Jacqueline Buchanan said the region is home to some of the most iconic national forests in the country and the SRS program ensures these public lands continue to benefit surrounding communities. Oregon will receive more than $47.7 million in SRS payments, which is the highest amount among all states. In southwest Oregon, Douglas County will receive about $6.67 million while Jackson County will receive more than $1.46 million and Josephine County will get over $950,000. These funds will provide critical support for schools, roads and other essential services in rural communities across the Pacific Northwest that are home to national forests. Over the past 10 years, the Forest Service has distributed $2.4 billion through the Secure Rural School program nationwide.

 

If you've ever wondered where steelhead go in the ocean after they've spawned in rivers, you're not alone. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists want to know, too. ODFW biologists in Southern Oregon are putting satellite "pop-off" tags on 10 adult winter steelhead in the Rogue and Chetco rivers this spring. The goal is to tag "kelts" -- the fish that have successfully spawned and are heading back to sea. Unlike Pacific salmon, steelhead can spawn multiple times and have a much broader ocean distribution. Steelhead are rarely encountered in commercial fisheries like salmon are, so much less is known about their distribution, migration routes, depth at sea and more. The multi-year research project will provide much information and add to biological knowledge of Rogue-South Coast winter steelhead. It is also the first winter steelhead satellite tagging of kelts in Oregon.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a patient for extremely rude behavior toward a nurse at Three Rivers Medical Center early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the disturbance at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue on Thursday around 6:15 a.m.. Police said the 32-year-old male subject subjected an emergency room nurse to offensive physical conduct by spitting on him while he was attempting to provide care. The nurse wanted to press charges, so the patient was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment and he was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested three people who were illegally camping on public land this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted the trio on Wednesday during a patrol check at a large transient camp on BLM Road 38-7-21. The transient camp was described as a complete mess, with trash and other items scattered around. Deputies said two of the subjects -- a 55-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman -- were charged with Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and Offensive Littering. They were lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. The other subject -- a 55-year-old man -- was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. He was cited and released due to an unspecified medical condition. According to the report, the BLM property has been the location of several camps in recent years. A few months ago, parts to a stolen airplane were found there.