Local News

The Rogue Valley Task Force has been released from the Battle Mountain Fire in Long Creek. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and the Illinois Valley Fire District were part of the task force that battled the blaze in Eastern Oregon. The local task force -- along with other Oregon State Fire Marshal resources -- were successful in protecting the communities to which they were assigned. The group's release is perfect timing for the cities of Grants Pass and Cave Junction as temperatures have heated up again, with a chance of thunderstorms and lightning this weekend. The National Weather Service has extended the Heat Advisory for southwest Oregon until 8 a.m. Saturday, and temperatures are expected to remain at or near 100 degrees through next week. Grants Pass fire officials remind the community to stay vigilant against starting fires in the hot weather, to hydrate often and find shade whenever possible.

 

Firefighters harnessed a temporary break of cooler weather and no new lightning fires this week to add miles and miles of new containment lines across more than two-dozen large wildfires on national forests in Oregon and Washington. But after a short 72-hour reprieve, wildfire conditions across much of the Pacific Northwest have come roaring back. The US Forest Service said August is showing nothing but hot, dry, windy conditions and dry lightning in this first week of the new month. Agency officials said the wildfire year is going to get worse before it gets better. There are currently 25 large wildfires burning on national forests spanning from Southern Oregon to the Canadian border. While some fires received rain from the recent weather shift, most wildfires east of the Cascades received little or no moisture and are primed to ramp back up as fire conditions worsen this weekend. In addition to these conditions, the incoming weather system may also support the growth of large smoke columns from any new or existing wildfires. Lightning potential is greatest on Saturday in Southern Oregon and expands Sunday into almost all of Eastern Oregon and into far northern areas of Central Washington.

 

Jackson County Fire District #1 in Rogue River has received a new Type 6 wildland engine from the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM). Fire Chief Mike Hammond said the State Fire Marshal will maintain ownership of the engine, but Fire District #1 will be responsible for housing, staffing, insuring and maintaining the apparatus for three years. At that time, OSFM will decide whether to leave the wildland engine in Rogue River or take it back. Hammond said it is their intention "to make OSFM want to leave it here." Chief Hammond said this couldn't be better timing for the local district since its current Type 6 wildland engine is 23 years old and ready for replacement. He said with a cost that approaches $200,000, it's a heavy lift for a small organization. Fire District #1 is currently up-fitting the new engine and training with it. They will have it in service and responding to fires very shortly. This was made possible through the Oregon State Fire Marshal Engine Program funded through Senate bill 762, Oregon's wildfire omnibus bill in 2021. Seven fire apparatus are coming to the Rogue Valley.

 

There's one more month of summer to go at Mount Ashland. Mount Ashland officials said it's been wonderful to witness everyone enjoying the mountain and lodge this summer. Their free tie-dye events were well-attended and there are many more events coming in August. The next Alpine Adventure Camp starts August 5th for children ages 11-13. There are still a few spots left and it’s not too late to sign up. The summer hours at the Mount Ashland Lodge & Grill are Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.. The Mount Ashland Lodge will close for the summer season on September 2nd. For more information, visit "mtashland.com."

 

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory today for Jackson County due to elevated levels of ozone pollution, or smog. DEQ expects the air quality advisory to last until 8 o'clock tonight. DEQ also updated its current air quality advisory for wildfire smoke to include Jackson County. The advisory previously listed Jackson County as an area expected to experience intermittent smoke. DEQ expects ozone pollution to reach levels this afternoon that could be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, pregnant people, older adults and people with heart disease or respiratory conditions. Health officials recommend sensitive groups limit outdoor activity when pollution levels are high. DEQ urges residents to protect their health and limit activities that cause pollution during the heat wave. Recommendations include:
• Limit driving by using public transit, carpooling or other alternative transportation.
• Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
• Refuel vehicles during cooler evening hours.
• Postpone yard work that uses gas-powered equipment.
• Postpone painting and aerosol spray projects.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a young woman and her boyfriend for stealing thousands of dollars from the woman's elderly grandmother earlier this year. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 20-year-old female subject and her 21-year-old boyfriend at Motel 6 on NE 7th Street at 12:52 p.m. Wednesday. Police said a woman in her mid-80s called 9-1-1 to report the incident. The caller said she allowed her granddaughter and her boyfriend to stay at her residence from January until April. During that time, the subjects allegedly stole her debit card and checkbook, taking about $6,000 through ATM withdrawals and cashed checks. Detectives contacted the grandmother's son-in-law who sent photos of the cashed checks and said he believed the subjects were staying with the granddaughter's mother in a motorhome near Walmart. They contacted the mother who directed them to Motel 6. Upon contact with the subjects at the motel, they admitted to taking the elderly woman's debit card and checks, and using them without her permission. The young suspects were placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Theft, Felony 1st-Degree Forgery and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, also a felony. Both were being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a local felony warrant last night following a trespassing complaint at a local fast food restaurant. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing call at the Taco Bell on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday around 10:15 p.m.. Police said they contacted a 41-year-old male subject who was yelling at customers while holding an open container of beer. They said he was highly intoxicated and had refused to leave the premises. A routine records check showed that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Methamphetamine Possession, so he was placed into custody. While in the back of the patrol car, the man became extremely hostile, telling the officer that he was going to kill him, his family and that he should "die a horrible death." He then intentionally hit his head on the metal partition, causing a cut that required medical attention. He was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center where he received a bandage for his self-inflicted injury, but refused a CT scan. The doctor refused to medically clear him until he got the scan, which he finally did. The suspect was medically cleared and then transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was being held this morning on a no-bail detainer. His property was logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for violating his post-prison supervision by driving while impaired in the downtown area yesterday. The Police Department reports officers initiated a traffic stop on a white Ford pickup driven by a 62-year-old male subject near the corner of NE 7th Street and Voorhies Way on Wednesday at 3:34 p.m.. Police said they observed the subject whom they knew by sight driving his pickup near Riverside Park while making several moving violations. Officers followed him and eventually pulled him over in the lot behind Arco at 7th and M streets. According to the report, the man displayed several signs of impairment and refused to participate in field sobriety tests. A search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented his high level of impairment. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Driving While Suspended and Felony Parole Violation. His pickup was impounded and hauled away by Goodfellas Towing.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for allegedly roughing up his wife at a residence in the north part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the 1800-block of NW 6th Street on Wednesday around 8:30 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her husband slapped her three times on the face, slammed the door on her and pushed her. The caller said their baby was in the house when it happened, but the infant was sleeping. The victim advised she was not seriously hurt and denied medical attention. Officers arrived on scene, interviewed both parties and then placed the 26-year-old husband and father into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Harassment and was being held without bail. According to the report, the incident was reported to the Oregon Department of Human Services.