Local News

The Illinois Valley Fire District is now accepting applications to fill one vacancy on its Board of Directors. IVFD is inviting all interested persons to apply by mailing or e-mailing a letter of interest to the local rural fire protection district. Letters may be sent by mail to 681 Caves Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523 or they can be e-mailed to "jamiepaul@ivfire.com." The deadline for these letters of interest is August 31st. Anyone with questions is invited to call the IVFD Administration Office at (541)-592-2225 or (541)-592-3159.

 

Firefighters are completing the last portions of mop-up operations on two of the 17 lightning-caused fires that were found in Southern Oregon over the last week. The fires followed numerous rounds of thunderstorms that moved through the region. Between July 15th and 22nd, five fires were reported on the Oregon Department of Forestry's Medford Unit and 12 were reported on the Grants Pass ODF Unit. At this time, all but two are 100% contained and they are nearly mopped up. Thunderstorms first materialized on the evening of July 15th, with a total of 66 lightning strikes recorded across the local district. From this storm, firefighters responded to 13 fires. Of these fires, the largest was the Waters Gulch Fire and it was stopped at just two acres. The next storm system arrived late Saturday night, with 18 recorded lightning strikes across Jackson and Josephine counties. Four fires were reported, with two in each unit. Of these fires, the Sugarpine Gulch Fire was caught at just over seven acres. It is now 100% lined and 100% mopped up. Resources and equipment were also strategically used from the Salt Creek Fire, which was caught and lined at just over 4,100 acres. The wildfire burning between Eagle Point and Butte Falls was transitioned from an ODF Incident Management Team to local control last week and it is now 100% contained.

 

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued an Air Quality Advisory on Monday for parts of Eastern, Central and Southern Oregon including Jackson, Josephine, eastern Douglas and Klamath counties. DEQ officials said the advisories are in effect until further notice. Smoke experts will revisit forecasts on Wednesday and possibly update the advisories. DEQ also expected intermittent smoke in eastern Lane and northern Lake counties through Wednesday due to smoke from the Diamond Complex Fire burning near Diamond and Lemolo lakes. Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather. Smoke can irritate eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions. People most at risk include infants and young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with heart or lung disease. Protect yourself and your family when smoke levels are high by staying inside if possible, and keeping doors and windows closed. If it's too hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or consider moving to a cooler location. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. Be aware of smoke in your area and avoid places with the highest levels. If you have a breathing plan for a medical condition, be sure to follow it and keep any needed medications refilled.

 

The Southern Oregon Veterans Stand Down and Employment Fair is set to take place tomorrow in White City. Organized by the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs, the stand down event will occur Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the VA SORCC Museum and Community Center at 8495 Crater Lake Highway. This free one-day event will provide a one-stop connection for veterans in the community to key services. There will be breakfast and lunch provided with a large number of services and resources available. Veterans can participate in the Employment Fair plus receive legal services, mental health services, Oregon DMV, VA Eligibility, VA Homeless Programs, VA Justice Outreach, Veterans Benefits Office, Free Haircuts, food, refreshments and more. For more details on the event, visit "va.gov/southern-oregon-health-care/events."

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office assisted the Grants Pass Police Department when it made contact with a man who was wanted for allegedly committing several felony-level crimes during a weekend traffic stop. The Police Department reports deputies pulled over the 53-year-old male subject in an unspecified location on Saturday around 9:50 p.m.. Police said deputies called for patrol units after they discovered that the subject was wanted by GPPD for probable cause of crimes including Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony Possession of Cocaine, Unlawful Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, Identity Theft, 1st-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Forgery. No other information was available in the case against the man identified as "Killian Reese Mavity." Mavity was lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for several crimes after a weekend shoplifting incident at Walmart. The Police Department reports officers ultimately arrested a 29-year-old male subject on the railroad tracks off NE Agness Avenue on Saturday at about 4:35 p.m.. Police said the subject stole approximately $1,100 worth of merchandise from the store on NE Terry Lane by taking the items past all points of sale and attempting to exit the store without paying. They said he was confronted by loss prevention near the exit and he dropped most of the stolen items as he fled on foot. The suspect jumped on a bicycle and fled onto the railroad tracks at Agness, but the bike sustained a mechanical malfunction on the tracks and was no longer a viable means of escape. While attempting to take the man into custody, he physically resisted which caused officers to lose their footing in the loose rocks and fall to the ground. He continued to resist until being placed into custody. According to the report, a set of brass knuckles were located in the man's pocket. The suspect was first examined by American Medical Response and then lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Theft, Resisting Arrest, Escape and Carrying a Concealed Weapon. He was being held without bail. The man was also trespassed from Walmart and the railroad property.

 

Police arrested a man for stealing a vehicle and felony drug possession after a weekend encounter at the Grants Pass Shopping Center. Grants Pass Police contacted the 41-year-old male subject and a female friend at the shopping center off NE D Street on Saturday at 6:42 p.m.. Police said they had probable cause to arrest the subject for stealing a vehicle after he was misidentified as a different person. During questioning, the man admitted to the crime and was placed into custody. During a consent search, the man was found to be in possession of approximately 22 grams of methamphetamine which was seized as evidence and for destruction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass woman for intentionally starting a weekend grass fire near Cave Junction. OSP reports troopers and fire personnel responded to multiple reports of a fire off Redwood Highway near West Side Road on Saturday at 6:53 p.m.. The Illinois Valley Fire District reported the small vegetation fire was extinguished and mopped up with assistance from the Oregon Department of Forestry. According to OSP, a witness stated that he saw a female subject start a fire on the side of the highway. She was located and placed into custody. The suspect -- identified by OSP as 44-year-old Stephani Kaye Fuentes -- was transported to Grants Pass and lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Burning.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a foreign national for trying to steal groceries from a local supermarket. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Saturday around 2:45 p.m.. Police said a 31-year-old female subject from Romania passed all points of sale with about $300 worth of grocery items without paying for them before she was stopped by loss prevention. They said the woman and her husband were evasive and uncooperative during the investigation. Witnesses reported the woman and her husband were standing in the parking lot near Panda Express and begging for money for most of the day. The female suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. Her husband was detained, but not arrested.