Local News

The Oregon Department of Transportation and the City of Medford are seeking public input on options for a potential overpass on Interstate 5 at South Stage Road between the South Medford and Phoenix exits. ODOT officials said the project aims to improve east-west transportation connectivity, traffic safety and emergency response times in this growing area. ODOT wants to hear from you. The public is invited to participate in two events. Attend an in-person open house today from 6 to 8 p.m. to learn about the roadway options being considered and to provide your input. The open house is being held at the RCC/SOU Higher Education Center at 101 South Bartlett Street in Medford. Citizens are also invited to visit the project's online open house through May 20th. The information shared about this project as well as the public and agency input received may be adopted or incorporated by reference into a future environmental review process to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.

 

The US Forest Service has announced repairs and traffic delays on Page Mountain Road in the Illinois Valley are coming in the near future. Road repairs including culvert replacements, deep patch repair and installation of a retaining wall will cause up to 60-minute delays on Page Mountain Road -- also known as Forest Service Road 4800 -- starting May 13th. The contractor -- Johnson Rock, Inc., of Coos Bay -- has until October 1st to complete the work. Wild Rivers District Ranger Scott Blower said road failures are a result of the 2020 Slater Fire and it shows some of the challenges they face after large wildfires. He said he's excited to see this important maintenance work happen, adding that it gets them closer to reopening Page Mountain Snopark by next winter. Blower encourages motorists to incorporate the delay times into their travel plans as needed. He said they appreciate your cooperation while this necessary road work is completed.

 

Recognition awards for extraordinary personal action highlight tomorrow's weekly business session of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel is scheduled to present Medals of Valor for the courageous actions of some of his workers. In other business, the Commissioners will hold a public hearing on two requests for annexation into the Illinois Valley Fire District. The annexations are by petition of the landowners, without election. The Board will open the meeting with its monthly recognition of employees. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

A Grants Pass man was killed and a Grants Pass woman was seriously injured last weekend during a motor vehicle accident in Coos County. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle crash on US Highway 101 near Bandon on Sunday afternoon. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicates 38-year-old Ryan Scott Sapp was driving a Nissan Pathfinder north when the vehicle left the highway for an unknown reason, struck an embankment and landed upside-down in a ditch. Sapp was declared deceased at the scene and his passenger -- 33-year-old Tasheena Fawn Reyes -- was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital. According to the report, the highway was not impacted during the investigation. OSP was assisted by Bandon Fire, Green Acres Fire and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley man for domestic violence at a home near Cave Junction yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 40-year-old male subject for the incident in the 1800-block of Rockydale Road on Monday around 1:30 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called from the home shortly after 4 a.m. and stated that she was being choked by the man. Dispatchers said the caller was screaming and not answering questions. It was determined that she was not seriously injured. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed both parties and discovered that they engaged in a physical altercation resulting in the suspect choking the victim in front of their two young children. The male party told deputies the altercation started when the victim wanted to wake up their children at 4 a.m. and he tried to stop her. According to the report, the man wrapped his arm around the woman's neck in an attempt to stop her which caused her to have difficulty breathing. Following the investigation, the suspect was arrested, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Strangulation and Felony 4th-Degree Assault. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for violating terms of his probation and he may be facing additional charges after he was caught driving a stolen vehicle last weekend. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested the 32-year-old male subject at the O'Brien General Store in the 33,000-block of Redwood Highway on Sunday at 1:49 p.m.. Deputies said the man was found to be driving a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup that had been reported stolen out of the Grants Pass area. The suspect told deputies that the registered owner allows him to use the vehicle, but two dogs were found inside the vehicle that belonged to the registered owner. The suspect was placed into custody and transported to Grants Pass where he was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Probation Violation. Charges of Vehicle Theft and Furnishing False Information to Police were referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration. The registered owner drove out to O'Brien to pick up his vehicle and dogs.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for raising a ruckus in the downtown area last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident in the 600-block of SW 6th Street on Sunday at about 9:50 a.m.. Police said the 28-year-old man generated at least four calls to 9-1-1 after his bad behavior caused public alarm. They said he was intoxicated, yelling, picking fights and interfering with vehicle traffic. He also pounded on the door of one business. Turns out those were just some of the incidents that man was involved with that morning. He also harassed a resident assistant at the Gospel Rescue Mission, calling him a pedophile and knocking a phone out of his hands twice. He then ripped up a residential fence while he made his way downtown where he threatened an employee at River City Grill. According to the report, the man had already been trespassed from Yumberry Bowl on NE Steiger Street after causing a recent disturbance there. Officers placed the suspect into custody and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. Additional charges were pending an investigation.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a young motorist for speed racing in the north part of the city last night. According to the Police Department, officers eventually pulled over the 20-year-old man in the 1800-block of NE 7th Street on Monday shortly after 7 p.m.. Police said they observed a vehicle traveling at speeds of more than 80 miles per hour on 7th Street. They said all other vehicles slowed down and pulled over, but the motorist continued driving until a traffic stop was initiated. According to the report, the suspect vehicle was seen weaving through traffic while placing other drivers and pedestrians in danger. The suspect was placed into custody for Reckless Driving and lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail. A woman assumed custody of the offending vehicle.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a motorist after he crashed his vehicle on Redwood Highway on Hayes Hill early yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle mishap near milepost 16 of US Highway 199 on Monday around 9 a.m.. Troopers said evidence at the scene indicated the 23-year-old male driver of a Chevrolet Malibu was traveling too fast for the conditions, failed to negotiate a curve and crashed into the southbound ditch. The driver was not hurt, but his car was damaged and towed to Grants Pass. Following the investigation, the driver was cited for multiple violations including Violating the Basic Rule.