Local News

Local law enforcement agencies have seen an uptick of scam calls in recent weeks. According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, these scam calls have defrauded three local victims of about $17,000. Sheriff's officials remind residents that phone scammers are actively victimizing the Southern Oregon community. Do not send money to someone representing themselves as law enforcement on the phone. The Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement entities will never call you to collect money and legitimate agencies will never ask for payment in the form of gift cards or bitcoin. When in doubt, hang up and call your local law enforcement agency. Please share this information with friends and family who may be vulnerable to such scams.

 

The Oregon State Police cited two local anglers this week for illegal fishing on the Rogue River. OSP reports a 69-year-old Grants Pass man and a 53-year-old Williams man were observed snagging fish on the Rogue at Finley Bend this past Thursday. State fish and wildlife troopers said both men were criminally cited for Unlawful Angling while their fishing poles were seized and logged into evidence.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District is inviting qualified firms to submit a proposal for engineering services for its water and sewer line expansion project. The bid period ends at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8th. IVFD Chief John Holmes said the district is excited to build new water lines, sewer lines and four fire hydrants to better serve its emergency operations. The Request for Proposals (RFP) containing details about the project is posted on the website at "ivfire.com." The project is being funded entirely by a grant from the Oregon Lottery Direct Legislative Award. The extension will run from the City of Cave Junction's main line on Old Stage Road to Station #1 on Caves Highway. The bid opening will take place on Tuesday, October 8th, at 2 p.m. at Station #1. The fire district is following Oregon State Public Contracting Law for an informal selection procedure. Selection will be based on qualifications and not lowest bid. The Illinois Valley Fire District is the primary full fire and emergency medical services agency that serves approximately 17,000 residents in the communities of Cave Junction, Selma, Kerby, O'Brien and Takilma.

 

The City of Grants Pass is asking citizens and visitors to heed closure notices associated with trail construction on Dollar Mountain. For the safety of contractors and the public, please do not walk past any "trail closed" signs. Trail construction on Dollar Mountain began earlier this month and will continue through the beginning of December. The initial phase will involve construction of around five miles of trails on the east side of the mountain off Hieglen Loop. Please do not venture past closure signs posted in the construction area. For questions regarding the Dollar Mountain Trail Project, please contact Grants Pass Parks Superintendent Josh Hopkins at "jhopkins@grantspassoregon.gov."

 

Josephine County leaders heard from several community agricultural and educational groups during a town hall meeting this week at the Fairgrounds. Speakers from groups serving both children and adults addressed members of the Board of Commissioners and Fair Board in the Fairgrounds Floral Building on Thursday night, with Recreation Director Tamra Martin serving as emcee. More than 45 community members attended the town hall. Speakers from six organizations presented assessments of their groups' participation numbers and needs, such as meeting spaces and additional funding. The interests represented ranged from gardening to animal husbandry to youth shooting sports and women's strength training. A seventh organization focused on robotics was not able to send a representative but asked Martin to present their needs to board members. That group's needs include a classroom for education and practice as well as showroom for members' final projects to be displayed. The Board of Commissioners plan to hold another town hall in the future to learn and listen to the needs of these local groups.

 

The Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management has reopened public lands within and near the two largest wildfires in southwest Oregon this summer. The Upper Applegate Fire near Ruch started on June 20th and it was finally contained at 1,143 acres while the Salt Creek Fire between Eagle Point and Butte Falls started on July 7th and it was contained at 4,102 acres. The Oregon Department of Forestry said the cause of the Upper Applegate Fire was illegal mowing of dry grass and the cause of the Salt Creek Fire remains under investigation but it was likely caused by human activity. Before venturing out to public lands near these two wildfire areas, BLM officials warn citizens to be aware that safety concerns still exit. Ash and dust from the fires may contain toxic and cancer-causing chemicals. Watch out for fire¬-weakened trees and limbs that can fall without warning. If the wind picks up, leave the area immediately. In wet weather, water or mud may build up quickly and cause a landslide. Stump holes can remain hot long after a fire is out and footing can be unstable if roots have burned out underground.

 

The Grants Pass Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management is excited to announce that repair work has finished on the Rainie Falls Trail nearly three months ahead of schedule. BLM officials said the barriers were removed Friday and the public is once again allowed to use the trail on the south side of the Rogue River near Grave Creek. The area has been closed since the Rum Creek Fire in 2022. Officials said there is still the potential for hazards in the burned area including falling trees and limbs, debris flows, falling rocks and other safety concerns. The Rum Creek Fire caused rock, trees and other debris to fall on the tread of the trail. Retaining wall features built out of wood, railroad ties and metal stakes were burnt and damaged to the point of failure. The trail posed extreme fall hazards. The BLM contracted with Work Horse, Inc., out of Enterprise, Oregon, to repair the trail at a cost of approximately $230,000.

 

Three Oregon men were sentenced to federal prison yesterday for distributing fentanyl that caused the overdose death of a Medford teenager. According to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon, 22-year-old Napoleon Gomez of Medford was sentenced to 87 months in prison and six years of supervised release, 27-year-old Conner Lee Francis of Portland was sentenced to 73 months in prison and four years of supervised release, and 23-year-old Hunter Fenstermaker of Medford was sentenced to 60 months in prison and six years of supervised release. All three were also ordered to pay restitution to the victim's family. On September 7, 2021, the Medford Police Department responded to a report of an overdose death of a 17-year-old high school student. Investigators learned the teen had taken a counterfeit Percocet pill containing fentanyl and -- within days -- identified Fenstermaker, Gomez and Francis as the teen's first-, second- and third-level drug suppliers. On February 3, 2022, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a five-count indictment charging Fenstermaker and Gomez with Distributing Fentanyl, and Francis with Possessing Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Fenstermaker, Gomez and Francis all pleaded guilty on April 9th, June 17th and June 24th of this year. On May 14th of this year, a fourth person -- 31-year-old John Rocha of Medford -- was sentenced to 70 months in prison for his role in the Medford teen's death. He was the teen's fourth-level drug supplier. The case was investigated by the FBI, Medford Police Department and Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement (MADGE).

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a young woman early today for assaulting her boyfriend at a home in the Redwood area of Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 19-year-old female subject at 1:45 this morning for the incident that occurred in the 900-block of Darneille Lane. Deputies said the male victim advised his girlfriend of eight months physically attacked him at the residence and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center to seek medical attention as he felt dizzy and dazed after the incident that occurred late last night. He was not seriously injured, but wanted to press charges. After searching the area, deputies located the young woman and placed her into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. She was being held without bail.