Local News

Most of Oregon and southwest Washington are on track to break high temperature records over the next few days, which creates a health risk for vulnerable people and should be taken seriously. The American Red Cross reports extreme heat is deadly and kills more people than any other weather event. Officials said the climate crisis is making extreme heat events more frequent, more severe and last longer. The Red Cross recommends taking four steps to stay safe in extreme heat: Slow down by postpone or limiting outdoor activities. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoiding sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks. Spend time indoors in an air-conditioned place. If you don’t have air conditioning, go to a public library, shopping mall or public cooling center.

 

Grants Pass firefighters and police officers were busy late Thursday night and early Friday morning responding to fireworks-related calls. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 10 calls for grass or trash fires that had started. Officials said eight of the fires were likely caused by fireworks and two of the calls in or near trash receptacles early yesterday were likely caused by the improper disposal of fireworks. The Grants Pass Police Department responded to five calls between midnight and 1 a.m. Friday as well as 43 calls on Thursday regarding people setting off fireworks.Today is the last day in Oregon to legally purchase fireworks.

 

Firefighters were able to stop the progress of a new wildfire that started late Thursday night in the foothills northeast of Ashland. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports the Dead Indian Memorial Road Fire is now 100% lined and has been GPS-mapped at 43 acres. At midnight last night, it was estimated to be more than 100 acres. The cause is under investigation. According to ODF, the fire was first reported at 10:15 p.m. in the 5400-block of Dead Indian Memorial Road. However, when firefighters arrived and began working, it was determined to be closer to the 4500-block. Numerous engines from ODF Southwest, Jackson County Fire District #5 and Ashland Fire-Rescue responded initially. More resources were quickly ordered including three 20-person hand crews, one 10-person crews, three engines and a bulldozer. Rogue Valley Strike Team #1 composed of resources from Josephine County was dispatched as well. Additional resources were ordered for today. Six 20-person crews, six engines, four water tenders, two bulldozers and two tree-fallers are assigned to the fire today. Firefighters will work to strengthen and further secure lines as well as begin mopping up and extinguishing hot spots. Difficult weather conditions will be working against firefighters including high temperatures well over 100, low relative humidity and winds. Dead Indian Memorial Road is currently closed near the fire due to a large amount of firefighting personnel and equipment in the area. ODF was working to open one lane of the road with a pilot vehicle this morning and the agency was anticipating the road to be fully-opened by the end of the dayshift if progress continues. No homes have been threatened and no evacuations were ordered.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for attempting to start her room on fire at the Sobering Center early today. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 47-year-old woman at the facility on SW Foundry Street at 1:26 this morning. Police said Sobering Center workers called 9-1-1 to report the female subject had a lighter and was using it to try to start her holding room on fire. They said she was also stripping down naked, thrashing around and trying to destroy the room. They were able to take the lighter away from the woman. The suspect identified as "Serenity Shayne Bailey" was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempted 1st-Degree Arson and Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held this morning without bail. Bailey had been brought in to the Sobering Center by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office because she was highly intoxicated while allegedly trying to start fires on Spencer Creek Road in the Murphy area on Thursday night. She admitted to using methamphetamine, alcohol and marijuana. According to the Sheriff's Office, a witness reported the woman lit some small fires because she was "trying to find out what it would look like if she lit the forest on fire." There was evidence that a few fires were started, but all of them were out.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing merchandise from Fred Meyer and fleeing the scene on a bicycle late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the shoplifting call at the store on the Grants Pass Parkway on Thursday shortly after 5 p.m.. Police said a 37-year-old male subject stole about $109 worth of merchandise from Fred Meyer and fled on a BMX bike. They said he exited the store with the stolen items, but dropped them when he was confronted by loss prevention. Officers tracked down the suspect on NE Mill Street near the railroad tracks. He was transported back to Fred Meyer where he was identified by store security and then placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail. He was also trespassed from Fred Meyer and the railroad property. His bicycle was logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Medford man for failing to comply with his state-mandated sex offender registration requirements yesterday during a traffic stop near Merlin. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Mitsubishi Lancer driven by the 32-year-old man for speeding at Interstate 5 milepost 60 on Thursday shortly after 11 a.m.. The motorist took the Merlin Exit and eventually stopped his vehicle on Merlin Road. Troopers said a routine records check showed the subject was out of compliance for failing to register annually as a sex offender. They said he also had a suspended driver's license and no insurance. According to OSP, the suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Failure to Report as a Convicted Sex Offender. He was being held without bail and his vehicle was impounded. He was also cited for Speeding and Driving While Suspended while being warned for No Insurance.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Jacksonville man on an outstanding warrant this week during a traffic stop on Redwood Highway near the Applegate River Bridge. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by the 39-year-old man on US Highway 199 at Riverbanks Road late Wednesday afternoon. Troopers said they stopped the Jeep for observed traffic violations and discovered that the driver was wanted on a local warrant for Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Driving While Suspended. He was placed into custody without incident. The suspect motorist was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. His vehicle was parked and secured at the scene of the traffic stop, per his request.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man for impaired driving last night following multiple traffic complaints on Riverbanks Road. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Toyota Corolla driven by the 26-year-old man on State Route 260 near Marcy Loop Road on Thursday at 10:20 p.m.. Troopers said they responded to reports of a reckless vehicle in the area that had been called in by multiple people. Upon contacting the driver, multiple signs of impairment were observed and he proceeded to perform poorly in field sobriety tests. The motorist was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was well over twice the legal driving limit. The suspect was lodged at the Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His car was impounded and towed into town.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for trespassing at a downtown retirement and assisted living center last night. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident involving the 64-year-old woman at The Bridge on SW Bridge Street at 8:41 p.m. Thursday. Police said an employee called 9-1-1 to report that the female subject was yelling and being belligerent near the front doors before she entered the facility. They said she refused to leave the building when requested to do so. Officers arrived on scene and placed the female suspect into custody. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and she was being held without bail. She was also trespassed from the facility.