Local News

Jackson County Public Health is warning residents to take precautions after four foxes found in the Butte Falls area tested positive for rabies. Rabies is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal -- and while post-exposure vaccination is effective, the best plan is prevention. Public health officials remind residents to take necessary precautions to protect yourself and your pets from rabies. Do not feed or otherwise handle stray animals and wildlife. Avoid physical contact with wild mammals -- especially foxes and bats -- healthy, sick, alive or dead. Be sure to keep children and pets away from wild animals. Vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies. While bats and foxes play a valuable role in nature, contact with humans should be avoided. Sick bats may be seen flopping around on the ground or otherwise acting unusual. If you find a bat or other wildlife species on your property acting strange, take children and pets indoors and call the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at (541)-826-8774. If a person or pet does come in physical contact with a bat or is bitten by a wild animal, promptly seek medical attention and report it to Jackson County Public Health at (541)-774-8045.

 

The Winchester Inn in downtown Ashland recently received a present for its 40th anniversary: It was named the Best Bed and Breakfast in the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for its location, hospitality and gourmet breakfast. The Inn's handsome Victorian era and newer buildings at 35 South Second Street are elevated above Main Street's independent shops and are a few blocks from Oregon Shakespeare Festival stages and a shady stroll along Ashland Creek and into Lithia Park. The garden-filled corner property is also a short scenic drive to Ashland's rural wineries and tasting rooms overlooking vineyards with views of Cascade and Siskiyou mountains. The Oregonian reports The Winchester Inn's longtime owners, the Gibbs family, restored the original 1886 mansion and added two restaurants offering fine cuisine, cocktails and a wine list showcasing Rogue Valley-grown pinot noir and chardonnay grapes.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for outstanding warrants and other crimes after he attempted to elude deputies near Wilderville late last night.The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 42-year-old Robert Dwight Elling on or near Fish Hatchery Road on Wednesday at 11:53 p.m.. Deputies said they were performing a patrol check at Griffin Park when a black sedan with two people inside went out onto the gravel bar, turned around and sped away south on Riverbanks Road to Redwood Highway to Old Redwood Highway to Fish Hatchery Road. The pursuit reached speeds of over 90 miles per hour. With assistance from the Oregon State Police, the eluding car was successfully spiked at the end of Riverbanks and its tires started losing air. Elling tried to bail out of the disabled vehicle, but he was placed into custody. Elling was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a recent conviction for drug possession and a Yolo County, California, warrant for drug possession. Elling was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrants plus new charges of Felony and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. His California-registered vehicle was impounded. His female passenger was given a courtesy ride to her home.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for domestic violence and an outstanding warrant in the Fish Hatchery area last night. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 300-block of Dexter Way on Wednesday shortly after 9 p.m.. Deputies said the property owner called 9-1-1 to report that their adult son was out of control. The caller said the 35-year-old male subject had a club in his hand and screamed that he was going to hit them with it. Fortunately, no one was injured. Upon arrival, deputies set up a perimeter around the residence that contained the suspect, his wife and a child. When he spotted law enforcement, he turned off the outside lights and retreated into the back part of the home. He eventually gave up and was placed into custody. The suspect was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Disorderly Conduct. He was lodged in jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Domestic Menacing.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a male transient for multiple crimes after he vandalized an employee's vehicle at the School District 7 bus shed yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 31-year-old Jose Manuel Urias on railroad property off NE Agness Avenue near Shannon Lane on Wednesday at 2:50 p.m.. Police said Urias was seen on security cameras striking an employee's vehicle, causing damaged to the passenger door and mirror. They said he then walked toward other bus shed workers while acting in a violent and tumultuous manner before running away from the incident location. After being found by officers on the railroad property, Urias was told he was under arrest. However, he fled on foot until a Taser was deployed and he was placed into custody. Officers said he was clearly under the influence of alcoholic beverages. Urias was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Criminal Mischief, Disorderly Conduct and Escape. He was also trespassed from the bus shed as well as multiple properties he ran through while trying to avoid arrest.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a homeless man on an outstanding felony warrant after he tried to steal merchandise from Home Depot early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a shoplifting call at the store on NE Mill Street on Wednesday around 9:20 a.m.. The suspect was placed into custody over an hour later at or near the SE J Street campground. Police said 38-year-old Charles Lee Shull admitted to putting a small Milwaukee tool bag and a Milwaukee folding knife in the waistband of his pants and walking past all points of sale at Home Depot. The value of the stolen items was $36.95. During the arrest, officers discovered Shull was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Robbery and 2nd-Degree Theft. He was lodged in jail on the warrant and for 3rd-Degree Theft. After being trespassed from Home Depot, Shull was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for trying to steal items from an eastside supermarket and possessing narcotics last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday at 6:43 p.m.. Police said a female subject they identified as "40-year-old Faye Lauren Fox" was detained by loss prevention and admitted to the theft of just over $19 in items from WinCo. Fox was taken by officers to the Josephine County Jail for booking and found with a glass pipe containing methamphetamine residue after claiming she had no drugs. Fox was charged with Felony Possession of Meth and 3rd-Degree Theft. She was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police cited or warned a motorist for using a cellphone while driving after he crashed his vehicle on Williams Highway near Murphy yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle rollover crash near milepost 7 of Highway 238 on Wednesday at 4:54 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation showed a 35-year-old man was driving a Ford Focus east on the highway while manipulating a cellphone with his hand. As the driver was placing the phone back in its carrier, he left the travel lane, overcorrected and rolled. He was self-extricated upon the arrival of rescue crews. According to OSP, the driver was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries. The heavily-damaged car was towed into Grants Pass. Following the investigation, the driver was either cited or warned for Distracted Driving.

 

Grants Pass Police cited two women for ordinance violations at a downtown city campground early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers performed a patrol check at the designated campsite at the corner of 6th and A streets early Wednesday morning. Officers cited one woman for violating campground rules by tying items to the fence and another woman for scattering rubbish. Both had been previously warned. A total of 19 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to United Community Action Network (UCAN). Another camper was warned for possessing a shopping cart. Two shopping carts were returned to the downtown Safeway.