Local News

Authorities were investigating the cause of a fire that damaged a Cave Junction residence early yesterday. The Illinois Valley Fire District, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the structure fire in the 800-block of Jackadel Lane on Monday at 1:52 a.m.. Arriving units found a three-story dwelling with visible smoke emanating from the roof. A second alarm was initiated and mutual aid was provided by Grants Pass Fire & Rescue. The fire was extinguished and crews began mop-up operations. No injuries were reported. Pacific Power was dispatched to remove the electrical meter. The cause of the fire was under investigation, with a potential origin point being identified as a flue fire.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry corralled a vegetation fire in the Murphy area yesterday. Around midday Monday, crews from ODF and the Williams Rural Fire Protection District responded and engaged in an aggressive initial attack on Glenlyn Drive, holding the blaze to an estimated 3/4 of an acre. The cause of the fire was under investigation. ODF officials said as temperatures continue to heat up this week, please be aware of the rising fire risk. Hot and windy weather conditions are known to rapidly accelerate fire growth. The start of the 2025 fire season in Josephine and Jackson counties will begin on June 1st when all outdoor debris burning -- including burn barrels -- will be prohibited.

 

The Board of Commissioners has determined that the opportunity to apply for the Josephine County Budget Committee is still available. The Budget Committee is comprised of three members of the public and the three Commissioners. The committee is responsible for reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The Josephine County Budget Committee has one vacancy. Interested individuals can find an application online at "josephinecounty.gov" under "Government, Committees and Advisory Boards." Individuals can also pick up an application from the Board of Commissioners' Office at the Courthouse in Grants Pass. Finance Director Ruth Nelson said Josephine County needs to make a good faith effort to fill the Budget Committee. The first meeting of the Josephine County Budget Committee for Fiscal Year 2026 is scheduled for Friday, May 30th, at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on proposed timber sales to reduce wildfire risk from dead and dying trees across about 5,300 acres in the Applegate Valley near Jacksonville. Sales would remove dead and dying trees in strategic locations. The work would be along roadways, near homes and in locations where BLM managers could best stop fires while they are small. BLM Ashland Field Manager Lauren Brown said removing dead and dying trees is critical for firefighter safety and the people who use these lands. She added that harvesting timber while it still has value provides revenue for American taxpayers. The BLM will host a field trip to the area from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 11th. During the field trip, BLM foresters will discuss the agency's plans and show project sites where dead tree removal has already happened. The US Treasury and 18 western Oregon counties would split sale proceeds. BLM officials said preliminary estimates show the harvest could produce at least 14 million board feet of timber -- enough to build more than 850 homes and support nearly 200 local jobs. Additional information is available at the BLM National NEPA Register, where comments can be submitted through the "Participate Now" options. The comment period will close on June 23rd.

 

The promise of more affordable housing in Grants Pass took a significant step forward this month with a groundbreaking ceremony for the 51-unit Nebraska Trail Apartments at 1801 SW Nebraska Avenue. During the ceremony, Grants Pass Mayor Clint Scherf spoke about the project's genesis in 2018 when the City Council formed a citizen and staff task force to strategically assess the potential of surplus city properties in tackling the growing housing crisis. The 1.9-acre lot -- with high-density zoning at an advantageous location near Three Rivers Medical Center and the Allen Creek Shopping Center -- quickly emerged as a prime opportunity to expand the city's apartment inventory. Chrisman Development of Enterprise, Oregon, was founded in 2000. It has an impressive track record, having constructed over 3,000 residential units across 24 counties in the state. The Nebraska Trail Apartments represent their first new construction venture in Southern Oregon. The Nebraska Trail Apartments will introduce much-needed one-, two- and three-bedroom units specifically set aside for families earning 60% or less of Josephine County's Area Median Income -- around $50,880 annually for a family of four. The contractor expects the project to complete construction in mid-2026.

 

AllCare Health has awarded a $25,000 grant to Talent Maker City, a Southern Oregon-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing hands-on creative learning and STEM education for people of all ages and backgrounds. The funding will support a wide range of community programs designed to enhance mental health, reduce social isolation, and build personal and professional growth skills. Talent Maker City offers culturally-specific and trauma-informed learning opportunities developed collaboratively with underserved populations including youth, older adults, people with disabilities and low-income residents. Programs span Jackson and Josephine counties and emphasize community well-being, youth workforce development and belonging, all of which play critical roles in addressing the long-term impacts of trauma. To learn more information, visit "talentmakercity.org." Talent Maker City's mission aligns with AllCare Health's commitment to addressing social determinants of health and investing in innovative strategies that promote equity across the region.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for felony robbery after he pushed a loss prevention officer while shoplifting at WinCo Foods this past weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint involving 60-year-old Gregory Albert Metzger at the supermarket on NE Terry Lane on Saturday shortly after 6 p.m.. Police said Metzger concealed stolen merchandise inside his backpack and left the store by passing all points of sale without paying. When confronted outside the store exit by security, the suspect used physical force by pushing a loss prevention worker in an attempt to retain the stolen merchandise. He was eventually detained. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, Metzger was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Robbery, 2nd-Degree Theft and the resulting Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on three local warrants after he tried to steal merchandise from Walmart. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting call at the big box retailer on NE Terry Lane on Saturday around 10:15 a.m.. Police said 38-year-old Bradley Andrew Peckham ran out of Walmart with four items and headed across the parking lot to Big 5 Sporting Goods. Loss prevention tried to stop him, but he got away with two Red Bulls and two cases of sandwich items. He recently had been trespassed from the store. Officers later located Peckham at NE Beacon and A streets. He did not listen to commands after being told he was under arrest, but was placed into custody at Taser point. Peckham was wanted on three Grants Pass warrants containing charges of Theft, Disorderly Conduct and Escape. He was lodged in jail on the warrants plus an additional charge of Petty Theft. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for car clouting after he was found sitting inside a parked vehicle at the downtown liquor store early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a reported vehicle break-in at the OLCC store located in the 200-block of SE 8th Street on Sunday at 2:10 a.m.. Police said the owner of a Toyota Corolla observed 22-year-old Xander Arthur Michael Strow sitting in the driver's seat of their car and called 9-1-1. They said Strow displayed multiple indicators of impairment by a narcotic stimulant, which made him difficult to interview. According to the report, Strow admitted to unlawful entering the vehicle in an attempt to steal a nicotine vape. Strow was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and Attempted 3rd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.