Local News

Oregon's public schools will receive a record $74.2 million from the Common School Fund in 2024 and a good portion of that is coming to the southern part of the state. Every one of Oregon's 197 public school districts receives money from the Common School Fund each year. How much each district receives depends on the number of students served. The average distribution is approximately $376,000. Locally, the Medford School District will receive more than $1.8 million while the Grants Pass School District will receive more than $783,000 from the fund. The Central Point School District will get nearly $635,000 and the Three Rivers School District will get just over $613,000. The other recipients, in order, are the school districts in Eagle Point, Ashland, Phoenix-Talent, Rogue River and Glendale. The Common School Fund has supported Oregon schools since statehood in 1859, when the federal government granted our new state nearly 3.4 million acres "for the use of schools." Now valued at $2.3 billion, the Common School Fund is invested by the State Treasurer and the Oregon Investment Council.

 

The Three Rivers School District is proud to announce the successful conclusion of the 2024 Battle of the Books Competition when literary champions from across the district showcased their passion for reading and knowledge. With a remarkable turnout of 15 teams, the competition was filled with enthusiasm and spirited rivalries. The first place winning teams were Charlise Ball, Ella Bailey, Zoe Myles and Charlotte Curtis of Manzanita Elementary; Amelia Wonnacott, Blaine Pearson, Scarlet Rappleyea and Xavian Jacobson of Fleming Middle School; and Morgan Clark, Paige Paul and Ava Adams from Illinois Valley High School. For a comprehensive list of competitors, winners and moderators, please visit the link in the long form of this story. Three Rivers officials gave a special commendation to all of the students who participated in the competition as well as the dedicated coordinators and moderators who generously volunteered their time to ensure smooth execution of the annual event.

 

A late afternoon rollover crash near Fish Hatchery Park sent a motorist to the hospital with moderate injuries. On Wednesday at 4:44 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck in the 2600-block of Fish Hatchery Road. Rural Metro officials said rescue crews took over care of the driver from several Good Samaritans who had stopped to help. The unidentified motorist was taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment. No one else was hurt. The crash also sheared off a power pole at that location, but the power lines did not come down. Traffic control was provided during the incident that was transferred over to Pacific Power crews to conduct repairs. Scattered power outages in the Fish Hatchery area were reported by customers last night before full electrical service was restored. It was unclear in the Rural Metro report whether law enforcement was conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested an out-of-state motorist on an outstanding warrant yesterday following a Redwood Highway traffic stop near Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Ford Ranger pickup driven by a 61-year-old Crescent City, California, man near milepost 4 of US Highway 199 on Wednesday at 11:12 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the driver for a traffic violation and discovered that he was wanted on a 2021 Lane County felony warrant for 1st-Degree Burglary. After the warrant was confirmed, the man was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. He was being held locally pending transfer to the Lane County Jail in Eugene. The pickup was turned over to the man's 65-year-old female passenger.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department apprehended five campers on outstanding warrants while sweeping through city parks on Wednesday. At Lawnridge Park, officers observed a 31-year-old man who was known to be wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation and a Grants Pass warrant for Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. At Riverside Park, officers detained a 38-year-old woman who was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and a Medford felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Theft. At Tussing Park, officers arrested a 34-year-old man who was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Identity Theft, 2nd-Degree Theft and Interfering with a Police Officer, along with a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct. Back at Riverside Park, officers detained a 31-year-old man who was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering and Driving While Suspended. At Morrison Centennial Park, officers arrested a 42-year-old man who was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft and Criminal Trespass. He was lodged in jail without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known "frequent flyer" last night for causing yet another disturbance, this time at a downtown area convenience store. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at A-1 Market & Deli on SW G Street on Wednesday around 10 p.m.. Upon arrival of police, store employees pointed out a 33-year-old woman as the subject causing problems. The suspect began running away from officers across the street before she eventually stopped and was placed into custody. Police said the woman had previously been trespassed from the store for causing problems as she has at numerous businesses around the city. The suspect was charged with 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and she was lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing problems at a downtown restaurant last night. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident at Thai BBQ on SW 6th Street around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said a restaurant employee reported that a 31-year-old man was standing in the doorway and refusing to let customers come inside. The worker gave the man some food in order to get him to leave. He instead took the food inside, sat down at a table and refused to exit the business when asked to do so by the manager. The suspect also refused to leave when asked to do so by police. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was also trespassed from Thai BBQ.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted two campers from a city park yesterday after they violated the ordinance regarding narcotics in public places. Around midday Wednesday at Riverside Park, officers observed a man and woman with drugs and drug paraphernalia clearly visible at their campsite. The pair was cited for Possession of a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance and both were trespassed from the park for 30 days. A total of 19 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping at Riverside Park yesterday and an e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office has arrested a motorist who caused a crash that injured him and one other person in the Selma area early yesterday. On Wednesday at 12:07 a.m., deputies and emergency personnel were dispatched to a two-vehicle head-on collision on Warren Road near Hogue Drive. Deputies said the incident involved a Toyota 4-Runner that was being towed that crashed into a Toyota Tundra, resulting in significant damage and severe injuries. They said arriving units found the 4-Runner lodged in the brush and a Ford truck with a tow strap attached to its bumper. According to the driver of the Ford, the 4-Runner had broken down and was being towed when -- for unknown reasons -- it veered into the oncoming lane and struck the Toyota. However, an investigation revealed much different circumstances. Upon impact, the female driver of the 4-Runner was ejected and found in the roadway. She and the driver of the Tundra -- 42-year-old Jared Robbins -- were transported by ambulance to local hospitals for treatment of serious injuries. Robbins has since been released from the hospital and he was lodged in the jail for Felony 3rd-Degree Assault, Reckless Driving and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. The Josephine County District Attorney's Office said it will prosecute the case.