Local News

Two Illinois Valley men were arrested for impaired riding this week after one of them crashed a motorcycle and the other rode it to a nearby residence. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 6 of Caves Highway on Monday night. Troopers said the 47-year-old operator of a Kawasaki KLR 650 failed to negotiate a corner and crashed. His passenger -- a 23-year-old man with the exact same name -- rode the motorcycle back onto the road and to a residence where it was parked. According to OSP, both riders were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Both riders also displayed signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. The motorcyclists were subsequently charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. The older of the two was also charged with Reckless Endangering. They were cited to appear in court and released to hospital staff.

 

The Ashland Police Department has arrested a female transient for starting a grass fire near Interstate 5. On Monday at about 8 p.m., a 9-1-1 call came in reporting a grass fire near I-5 southbound just north of Exit 14. Ashland Fire & Rescue responded as did the Ashland Police Department and several partner agencies. The fire was quickly contained, helped in part by recent wet weather. At no point were Ashland homes or other structures threatened. APD Chief Tighe O'Meara said a Medford area transient -- 43-year-old Jennifer Paulson -- was taken into custody and lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Reckless Burning, Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. O'Meara said Ashland's first responders were assisted on this call by Jackson County Fire District #5, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, Talent Police Department, Phoenix Police Department and Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon.

 

Two separate incidents early yesterday had Rural Metro Fire Department running in different directions in the Grants Pass and Murphy areas. On Tuesday at 7:25 a.m., Rural Metro and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a report of a house fire on McVay Lane off Lower River Road. Crews arrived to find a fire in the contents of a furnace room that was quickly contained without damage to the structure. Rural Metro officials said it appeared to be caused by flammable materials too close to an incandescent light bulb that heated up the materials to the point of ignition. There were no injuries. On Tuesday at 7:28 a.m., Rural Metro units were directed to a vehicle on fire on Williams Highway at Ridgefield Road. The vehicle caught fire while stopped next to an Oregon Department of Transportation flagger crew working in the area. ODOT crews were able to use fire extinguishers and a neighbor's garden hose to knock down the flames. There was no spread to adjacent vegetation. The cause appeared to be mechanical. Officials said if the two fire incidents had occurred during the afternoon of a typically hot August day, the outcomes could have been much more severe.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold four public hearings during its weekly business session this morning. The public hearings are on the first reading of ordinances related to the payment of attorney fees, utility consumer choice, sanitary landfills and designation of certain county lands for sanitary landfills. Second readings are set for September 4th. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider an order outlining general fund appropriations in the general fund departments. Appropriations of general fund money within departments would be treated as a not-to-exceed appropriation. General fund departments would watch both their spending appropriation as well as their revenues in the same fashion that all other county departments operate. The Board will open the session with a Chamber of Commerce presentation on the 2024 Lemonade Day event. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve is hosting a public meeting this week for proposed changes in fees at Cave Creek Campground and Cave Tours. The Virtual Public Meeting will be held this Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m., at "Oregon Caves Public Meeting." The call-in information is +1 202-640-1187 and the phone conference ID is "930 249 985#." The park is proposing an increase of campsite fees at Cave Creek Campground to $20 from $10 for the next two years and an additional increase to $30 after several improvements -- including water and electrical at individual sites, accessible campsites, road improvements and new restrooms -- are completed. A proposed increase for Cave Tours is also being considered -- $20 for adults, $15 for children and $65 for off-trail. The current rates are $10, $7 and $45, respectively. Public engagement is an important part of the park's planning process. Public comments on the fee increases can be submitted to "parkplanning.nps.gov/ORCA-fees-24." Comments may also be submitted via mail to: Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve, Office of the Superintendent, 19000 Caves Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523. All public comments on the fee increases will be accepted through August 30th.

 

Cooler weather and recent precipitation have improved conditions to allow the Grants Pass Fire Marshal to lower the fire danger level to "high." The Oregon Department of Forestry also reduced the local fire danger to "high" this week. While conditions have improved, it is important to remember summer is not over and we must remain vigilant in our efforts to prevent fire. The primary change to fire prevention regulations was to move the shutdown time for power-driven machinery to 10 a.m.. That includes chainsaws, the cutting, grinding and welding of metal, and the mowing of dry grass. Open wood-fueled fires are prohibited -- including campfires, cooking fires and warming fires -- except at locations designated by the Fire Marshal. Wood smokers, charcoal barbecues as well as propane- and natural gas-fueled ornamental fires are allowed. The City Fire Marshal or an authorized representative may -- in writing -- approve a modification or waiver of these requirements. For more information about Grants Pass fire season regulations, please call the Fire Prevention Bureau at (541)-450-6200.

 

Josephine County Public Works has announced that Leonard Road near Redwood Elementary School will be closed through the end of this week for a water line installation. The closure at 3163 Leonard Road starts today and is expected to last through Friday to all traffic -- including emergency vehicles. The work should be finished before the start of school next week. Access for teachers and parents to Redwood Elementary will be under flagger control. All other motorists will be detoured around the work zone. The traveling public is advised to find alternate routes. Josephine County Public Works understands this is a significant inconvenience for residents and motorists, and they appreciate your patience and cooperation during the project. For more information, contact Public Works at (541)-474-5460.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold four public hearings during its weekly business session tomorrow morning. The public hearings are on the first reading of ordinances related to the payment of attorney fees, utility consumer choice, sanitary landfills and designation of certain county lands for sanitary landfills. Second readings are set for September 4th. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider an order outlining general fund appropriations in the general fund departments. Appropriations of general fund money within departments would be treated as a not-to-exceed appropriation. General fund departments would watch both their spending appropriation as well as their revenues in the same fashion that all other county departments operate. During Requests and Comments from Citizens, members of the public are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. The Board will open the session with a Chamber of Commerce presentation on the 2024 Lemonade Day event. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested an Illinois Valley man for violating his probation late yesterday during a theft investigation. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 46-year-old male subject at a Cave Junction area transient camp on Monday at 4:06 p.m.. Deputies said a Brookings man called 9-1-1 to report that his wallet had been stolen by a male transient at the 76 gas station in Cave Junction and that his bank notified him that three transactions at Li'l Pantry Market & Deli were attempted but denied. The caller said his wallet contained personal and military identification cards, plus social security and multiple credit cards. Based on the suspect description and video surveillance at the convenience store, deputies determined the suspect might be a man they identified as "Joseph David Ainsworth." When contacted at the transient camp, the suspect denied the crime. His corrections officer was contacted and requested that he be placed into custody. Ainsworth was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Probation Violation. He was being held without bail. An investigation into the theft case was continuing.