Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was alerted to a theft on Bureau of Land Management Property Wednesday afternoon.

Officers received a call from the theft victim where he stated the suspect had taken his two chairs, pop up canopy, and small trough. He told officers he had a trail camera by his items that caught the suspect walking away with them.

The suspect drove off in a green Nissan Maxima, followed closely by the victim, who told officers he could see the stolen items in the suspects' vehicle.

Officers made contact with the suspect and found he was wanted on a Central Point Police Department warrant for Failure to Appear in Court and Third Degree Theft.

When asked why he took the items, the suspect claimed he didn't think they belonged to anyone. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and an additional charge of Second Degree Theft.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man on multiple charges including strangulation Wednesday.

Officers received a call last night from a man reporting his son had put him in a choke hold and threatened to kill him. The suspect had also reportedly held a weight bar to his mother.

The son was contacted by officers and charged with Strangulation, two counts of Menacing, and two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Oregon State Police Department responded to a crash on I-5 Northbound yesterday.

Officers arrived at milepost 54 where they found a car with heavy front-end damage. They learned the driver was traveling northbound at a high rate of speed and, due to rain and the wet roadway, lost control.

The vehicle collided into a guardrail and had to be towed from the scene. The driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital as a precaution.

Witnesses said that the driver had been driving aggressively before the crash. Officers cited him for violating the basic rule.

With wet weather entering the forecasts, this serves as a reminder to drive safely and responsibly.

 

The Rogue Community College Foundation has named Steve Roe as its 2025 Citizen of the Year. The general manager of Roe Motors in Grants Pass, Roe is honored for his unwavering commitment to the community and steadfast support of RCC’s mission to transform lives through education. A longtime Grants Pass resident, Roe has provided poverty simulation workshops to RCC students, faculty and staff, offering invaluable insight into the barriers faced by individuals living in poverty. During finals week, Roe can be found on Redwood Campus with his trained therapy dog, Hope, offering comfort and encouragement to students. Roe is recognized as a champion for mental health and suicide prevention. He is an advocate with the "Tomorrow Needs You" program, which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

 

Continued hard work by firefighters on the Kelsey Peak Fire has increased containment to 12%. Control lines have been completed along the west, north, and northeast areas of the fire. The fire line has been constructed directly on the fire’s edge, and crews are mopping up into the interior and gridding for heat. Steep, rugged terrain and thick vegetation make both line construction and mop-up challenging for fire crews. There have been no accidents or injuries on the incident since the fire was reported on September 3, 2025. Overnight improved access to the southeast corner of the fire was completed; today crews will continue direct fire line construction as conditions allow and build hose lays, increasing water availability. Nine helicopters are assigned to the fire to support ground resources in the suppression efforts.

 

Rogue Community College and the RCC Foundation have named Zackary Salem-Bango, a 2015 RCC graduate, the 2025 Alum of the Year. Salem-Bango, a former Peace Corps volunteer now working as a medical intern in Seattle, was selected for his professional accomplishments and dedication to service, mentorship and the community where his journey began. He will be formally recognized at the President’s Circle dinner on Sept. 25, an annual celebration hosted by the RCC Foundation to honor donors and highlight the life-changing impact of education. A native of Applegate, Salem-Bango began his higher education journey at RCC, where he earned an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree in pre-medicine, first enrolling at age 13. After RCC, he pursued a degree in biochemistry at Oregon State University, then went on to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

 

The Bear Creek Stewards are looking for volunteers to participate in Bear Creek Stewardship Day.

On September 20th, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., community members can join the Stewards as they remove litter, debris, and invasive plants along Bear Creek and the Bear Creek Greenway from Central Point to Ashland.

Coffee, juice, water, and snacks will be provided. For more information and to sign up, visit www.stream-smart.com/bear-creek-clean-ups. Sign up's are open now until September 20th.

 

Rural Metro invites first responders and community members to their annual 9/11 memorial walk.

From 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 11th, at Reinhart Volunteer Park, everyone is encouraged to join the 1-hour walk around the track near the parking lot adjacent to Lincoln Road.

The walk is a way to "never forget" and honor those who died at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Shanksville, PA. Also for the 343 New York firefighters and other First Responders who died trying to save others.

First Responders of any discipline and the public are welcome to join. Uniforms are encouraged but not required. There is no obligation to walk for those who just want to turn-out in support and remembrance.

 

Rogue Community College and the RCC Foundation have named Zackary Salem-Bango, a 2015 RCC graduate, the 2025 Alum of the Year.

Salem-Bango, a former Peace Corps volunteer now working as a medical intern in Seattle, was selected for his professional accomplishments and dedication to service, mentorship and the community where his journey began.

He will be formally recognized at the President’s Circle dinner on Sept. 25, an annual celebration hosted by the RCC Foundation to honor donors and highlight the life-changing impact of education.

A native of Applegate, Salem-Bango began his higher education journey at RCC, where he earned an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree in pre-medicine, first enrolling at age 13. After RCC, he pursued a degree in biochemistry at Oregon State University, then went on to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

His experiences span the globe, from service in the Peace Corps in Botswana to malaria research in The Gambia, where his development of a multiplex qPCR system for rapid fungal diagnosis is still in use today. Currently, he is a postgraduate intern in emergency medicine at the University of Washington, training at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Despite his busy career, Salem-Bango remains connected to RCC. He has mentored transfer students through the college’s TRIO Student Support Services program, offering encouragement and guidance to those interested in medicine.