Local News

A motorcyclist was seriously injured when he went off an embankment while trying to avoid a deer in the Merlin area late yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police were all dispatched to the single-vehicle crash on Galice Road just west of Azalea Drive on Sunday at 5:27 p.m.. Rescue crews from Rural Metro and AMR found the rider about 15 feet over an embankment, suffering from serious injuries. A rope system was set up to extract the patient who was then transported by ambulance to Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford where the trauma system was activated. OSP identified the motorcyclist as 35-year-old Travis Anthony Gendreau of Shingletown, California. There was no word on his current condition. Rural Metro officials said one notable recommendation that came from this incident is that wearing a helmet with facial protection is preferred over the skull-cap style helmet.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for roughing up his girlfriend at a Merlin area residence late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 31-year-old Hunter Allen Blossom for the incident in the 2300-block of Galice Road on Friday at 2:11 a.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that Blossom had shoved her onto a bed and she narrowly missed landing on her 2-1/2-week-old baby. The caller said her boyfriend then began packing his items and taking them to his trailer on the same property. According to the report, the victim said her intoxicated boyfriend also hit her in the face. However, she declined medical attention. Deputies arrived on scene and interviewed both parties before placing Blossom into custody. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on two local warrants and more after he was caught stealing from Walmart late last week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 42-year-old Gabriel Feliciano for the incident at the store on NE Terry Lane on Friday at 12:39 p.m.. Police said a Walmart manager called 9-1-1 to report that a male subject took about $200 worth of goods including camping items from the store without paying for them. When confronted by loss prevention, he walked away from them and left the stolen items behind. The entire incident was captured on video surveillance. Officers tracked down Feliciano and discovered that he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for Felony Burglary, Felony Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. He was placed into custody without incident. Feliciano was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants plus new charges of 2nd-Degree Theft and Probation Violation. He was being held on $45,000 bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for disobeying a 30-day exclusion order at a downtown resting site late last week. According to the Police Department, officers were performing a patrol check at the 6th & A Street homeless encampment around midday Friday when they contacted 37-year-old Melissa Sue Koenig. Police said they spotted Koenig and records indicated that she had been trespassed from the resting site five days prior. After informing her that she was under arrest, she reportedly threw an object at officers but missed them. Koenig was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. Her belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

A barn fire in the Sand Creek area of Grants Pass drew a response from multiple agencies early yesterday. On Sunday at 8:38 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, Oregon Department of Forestry and American Medical Response were dispatched to the reported structure fire near the intersection of Hartley and DeWoody lanes. Rural Metro officials said crews got a quick knockdown on the two-story cinder block building, saving most of the first-floor interior. There were no reported injuries and no spread to the surrounding wildland. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire. Additional support was received from the Applegate Valley Fire District and Illinois Valley Fire District to help cover additional calls in the south Grants Pass area.

 

Rogue Community College is offering a Supervisory and Leadership Bootcamp in July that is designed to equip current and aspiring leaders with essential tools to succeed in today's dynamic workplace. The three-part, in-person workshop will take place July 10th, 17th and 31st from 2 to 5 p.m. at RCC's Redwood Campus in Grants Pass. The bootcamp is open to professionals across business, nonprofit and public sectors. Participants will engage in interactive learning focused on real-world leadership scenarios, building both confidence and competence in topics such as the role of modern supervisors and leaders, change management, brand stewardship, recruitment and onboarding strategies, team and performance management, and employee development. Lisa Parks, RCC's dean of business and workforce development, said strong leadership is essential in every sector. She said this bootcamp is ideal for professionals ready to grow their leadership capacity and support organizational success. The cost is $179 per person and includes all materials. Registration is open now through June 30th. To register, visit "roguecc.edu/LeadershipBootcamp." For more information, contact RCC Community and Workforce Training at (541)-956-7303.

 

In its final update on the Upper Applegate Fire, the Oregon Department of Forestry reported the 453-acre wildfire was 55% contained and crews were pushing forward with mop-up operations. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. After a short duration of heavy rain over the incident on Friday night, temperatures remained much lower than normal on Saturday with a light drizzle that helped crews mop up 100 feet into the fire's perimeter. The goal on Sunday was 150 feet. On Saturday morning, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management cancelled all remaining evacuation notices in the area. Upper and Little Applegate roads remained open. However, firefighters were still working in the area so motorists were encouraged to be aware and cautious. The Upper Applegate Fire was reported at 12:30 p.m. on June 18th as a grass fire nearly a year to the day of last year's 1,142-acre Upper Applegate incident. Both fires were located in the same general area, with similar weather and vegetation moisture levels -- but this year's fire started roughly three hours earlier in the day. ODF fire managers attribute bringing initial attack firefighters on earlier as well as hazard tree mitigation work in the area completed by the BLM this year to the success of firefighters on the ground.

 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Upper Applegate Road Fire burning in Jackson County. The state of Oregon's request for a declaration under FEMA's Fire Management Assistance Grant program was approved by FEMA Acting Administrator Vincent Maykovich. He determined that the Upper Applegate Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. At the time of the state's request, the local wildfire threatened homes in and around the communities of Upper Applegate, Ruch and Buncom. The fire was threatening communication infrastructure, electric utilities, campground and trail recreation sites, watershed, fishing and spawning sites, environmental resources and cultural resources. FEMA grants make funding available to pay up to 75% of a state's eligible costs for fighting fires that threaten to become major disasters. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies, and mobilization and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire.

 

AllCare Health has awarded a grant of more than $14,500 to Rogue Community Health to support expanded rural transportation services for vulnerable residents in Jackson and Josephine counties. Officials said the initiative addresses critical gaps in access to essential services outside traditional healthcare coverage. Funding will help provide those living in rural parts of the two counties with services developed to meet their transportation needs. Rogue Community Health is helping ensure that people can access the resources that support their health and dignity. By emphasizing transportation for non-covered services, this project strengthens community resilience and reduces isolation -- especially for those who experience geographic limitations, economic hardship or disability. The grant reflects AllCare Health's ongoing commitment to investing in strategies that address social determinants of health and promoting equitable access to care and community participation.