Local News

The Redwood Foundation for Education is pleased to announce a new scholarship opportunity tailored specifically for students pursuing trade, technical or vocational careers or apprenticeships. Graduating high school seniors living in Josephine County or attending Grants Pass, Hidden Valley, North Valley, Illinois Valley, Rogue River or Glendale High Schools are eligible to fill out the Redwood Trade Scholarship Application. Through one application, students have access to 12 different trade-specific scholarship funds. Last year was the first year this specialized scholarship application was open and -- as a result -- over $65,000 was awarded to 2024 graduates going into trade fields. The application will ask students basic demographic questions and financial information. They will be required to submit one personal statement about their specific career plans and why they are passionate about their chosen field. To learn more about the Redwood Foundation for Education, make a donation, apply for scholarships and grant funding, or develop your own legacy gift, visit their website at "redwoodforeducation.org" or call (541)-476-2196.

 

The Board of Commissioners this morning repealed three outdated chapters from the Josephine County Code and approved changes to several projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Board voted 2-0 to approve ordinances to repeal chapters of the Code related to property forfeiture, golf carts and septic sludge disposal. Commissioner Herman Baertschiger was absent. During three public hearings, Assistant Legal Counsel Leah Harper explained the chapters were either outdated or contrary to current Oregon statutes. The first readings of the ordinances were held October 23rd. Under Administrative Actions, the Board approved a Sheriff's Office invoice for $13,899.75 to pay for the purchase and initial training of a police service dog. It includes a California sales tax of $999.75. In other business, the Commissioners approved ratification of changes to five ARPA projects including a self-service fuel island at the Illinois Valley Airport, improvements at the Fleming Treatment Plant, a water suppression pond for Grants Pass Airport Hangars, an amendment to help fund Hillcrest Village and two main water control valves for the Fort Vannoy Irrigation District. Some of the funding will be diverted to pay for new water and sewer lines at the Grants Pass Airport. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board approved an order that set a public hearing for proposed fee schedule changes for several county departments for November 27th. A list of the fee changes is available at "josephinecounty.gov." The Commissioners also appointed Bruce Galloway to a four-year term on the Parks Advisory Board and Terri Pace to a three-year term on the Law Enforcement Service District's Citizen Advisory Committee.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Grants Pass woman early yesterday for threatening to kill her two roommates with a knife. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 39-year-old Brittney Faith Hageman for the incident at a home in the 2100-block of Rogue River Highway on Tuesday at 10:28 a.m.. Grants Pass police officers and Oregon state troopers assisted. Deputies said Hageman had a large knife and was threatening to kill her two roommates with it. They said she swung the knife at one of her roommates who is wheelchair-bound. The victim was able to block the knife and move out of the way before the suspect began stabbing holes in the bedroom door and screaming. Law enforcement arrived on scene and ordered Hageman to drop the knife, but she did not comply and was Tased multiple times. While being placed in handcuffs, the subject resisted by pulling her hands away and tucking them under her body. The knife was located and seized as evidence. Fortunately, no one was injured. Hageman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felony Attempted 1st-Degree Assault, two counts of Menacing and one count of Resisting Arrest. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for two crimes early yesterday during a patrol check in the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 46-year-old Jason William Whittenberg in the 100-block of SW 4th Street on Tuesday shortly before 10 a.m.. Few details about the incident were disclosed, but officers said Whittenberg was surrounded by trash and in possession of a WinCo Foods shopping cart. The trash was disposed of and the cart was returned to the supermarket. Whittenberg was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Offensive Littering and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. His belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Cave Junction man for impaired driving last night during a traffic stop on Redwood Highway in the southern Illinois Valley. OSP reports troopers pulled over a black Dodge Ram 1500 pickup driven by the 45-year-old male subject near milepost 29 of US Highway 199 at 10:02 p.m. on Tuesday. Troopers said they stopped the truck for speeding and the driver appeared to be impaired. They said the driver refused to perform field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of impairment. The suspect was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. His pickup was impounded.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District was pressed into duty twice in just minutes last night for motor vehicle accidents near Cave Junction. On Tuesday at 9:25 p.m., IVFD and American Medical Response were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on Happy Camp Road. An off-duty police officer assisted in removing an individual from the vehicle and the occupant did not sustain any injuries, so AMR was released from the scene. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of the crash. On Tuesday at 9:31 p.m., IVFD responded to a single-vehicle traffic incident on Pinewood Way. Upon arrival, crews discovered the vehicle was unoccupied and not impeding the flow of traffic. The unidentified driver had collided with several trees before fleeing the scene. Jerry's Towing was dispatched to remove the vehicle.

 

UPDATE: MISSING WOMAN HAS BEEN FOUND.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking public assistance in locating a missing Merlin woman. The Sheriff's Office reports 34-year-old Megan Yvonne Wells was reported missing on Tuesday. She was last seen at her Merlin area residence on Monday morning. Wells is driving a red 2004 Jeep Cherokee with Oregon license plate 743BBH. Wells is described as a white female adult, 5-feet-10-inches tall and 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Megan Wells is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123. Please reference Case #24-26358.

 

The Medford Police Department has arrested an impaired motorist for causing a crash involving a motorcycle last weekend. On Sunday night, MPD officers responded to a motor vehicle accident between a pickup and a motorcycle at the intersection of Table Rock Road and Berrydale Avenue. According to MPD, a motorcyclist traveling south on Berrydale entered the intersection with a green light when a Toyota Tacoma turned left in front of him, resulting in a collision. The unidentified motorcyclist suffered serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The unidentified driver of the Tacoma showed signs of impairment and was placed into custody. He was charged with felony crimes of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and 2nd-Degree Assault along with misdemeanor crimes of Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. He was lodged at the Jackson County Jail. The incident was investigated by the Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) team.

 

A motorist was injured when he fell asleep at the wheel of his vehicle and crashed into a tree near the Illinois Valley Airport this week. On Monday afternoon, the Oregon State Police, Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon Department of Transportation were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck on US Highway 199 near Airport Drive. Upon arrival, emergency units found a Dodge Avenger off the highway and completely engulfed in flames. A bystander had successfully rescued the 29-year-old male occupant from the vehicle before the fire spread. The patient was transported by AMR to a local hospital after initial treatment from a paramedic. The Oregon State Police was conducting an investigation into the incident, but state troopers said it appears the driver fell asleep at the wheel which caused the vehicle to leave the highway and collide with the tree. Emergency officials are expressing their gratitude to the individual who bravely rescued the driver from the burning vehicle. They said the rescuer's actions saved a life.