Local News

The Jackson County Roads and Parks Department is hosting this year's Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors (OACES) Skills Demonstration and Safety Conference at the Jackson County Expo Park in Central Point. The event convenes Road Maintenance and Engineering professionals from counties and cities across Oregon with nearly 100 participants. This year's event has speakers focusing on workplace safety, emergency response, pavement maintenance and traffic management. Participants also have the chance to demonstrate their skills in operating heavy equipment that is used in road maintenance. Jackson County Roads and Parks Department Director Steve Lambert said their team members are very skilled professionals who are dedicated to the work they do. He said training at this week's event allows for networking with peers, focused on improving skills to best serve the traveling public while ensuring worker safety. Brian Worley with OACES said county road departments are being asked to do more with less on a daily basis. He said it's important to OACES that they continue to assist these public works professionals with training such as this week's events to provide opportunities for continued growth.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance yesterday that paves the way for a residential development in the North Valley area. Following a public hearing on the second reading of an ordinance pertaining to a property adjacent to Interstate 5 near South Schoolhouse Creek Road, the Board voted 2-0 to approve it. Board Chair John West recused himself from the decision due to a potential conflict of interest. The county's Comprehensive Plan was amended from Forest to Residential and the Zoning Map was changed from Woodlot Resource to Rural Residential with a five-acre minimum lot size. The property owner is KND Development, LLC. Josephine County Planner James Black testified that it took close to three years to approve the ordinance following two appeals to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals. In Requests and Comments from Citizens, the Commissioners heard continued complaints about defunding the 4-H Extension Service District, questions about Public Health funding in the next budget cycle, concerns about the recent E. coli outbreak that claimed the life of a young Grants Pass girl and the identification of a new mosquito in Jackson County, and praise for declaring September 17th-23rd as "US Constitution Week." Commissioner Andreas Blech read the proclamation.

 

Following rain and cooler temperatures across Southern Oregon, the fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in Josephine and Jackson counties has decreased to "high," effective immediately. This affects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county and BLM lands in the two-county region. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level remains at "Level 2." The primary difference between "extreme" fire prevention restrictions and those that begin today affects the use of power-driven equipment such as chainsaws, mowers, weed-eaters and more. The use of power-driven machinery, the cutting, grinding and welding of metal and other spark-emitting equipment such as wood-splitters and generators is now allowed until 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. daily. All other fire prevention regulations remain in effect including no outdoor debris burning, no fireworks and no exploding targets or tracer ammunition. For more information about Southwest Oregon fire season public restrictions, please visit "swofire.com" or call the ODF offices in Grants Pass and Medford.

 

The Human Bean hosted its 11th Annual Food Drive at drive-thru locations across the United States last month. On Friday, August 16th, one dollar for every drink sold was earmarked for local food programs in Human Bean communities. Customers visiting the family of drive-thrus on that special day supported an estimated 202,998 meals for local food pantry shelves. In the summer when many food banks are running low on supplies, this fundraiser helps ensure those in need have access to nutritious meals. On average, food programs are able to stretch one dollar to provide three meals. Last year, Human Bean drive-thrus were able to fund the equivalent of 179,184 meals. Each participating location chooses a local food bank in their community to support. The Human Bean's next collective effort is coming up on Friday, October 18th. During the 19th Annual Coffee for a Cure, 100% of food and beverage sales will go directly toward the treatment and care of people battling breast cancer.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning adopted an ordinance that paves the way for a residential development in the North Valley area. Following a public hearing on the second reading of an ordinance pertaining to a property adjacent to Interstate 5 near South Schoolhouse Creek Road, the Board voted 2-0 to approve it. Board Chair John West recused himself from the decision due to a potential conflict of interest. The county's Comprehensive Plan was amended from Forest to Residential and the Zoning Map was changed from Woodlot Resource to Rural Residential with a five-acre minimum lot size. The property owner is KND Development, LLC. Josephine County Planner James Black testified that it took close to three years to approve the ordinance following two appeals to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals. In Requests and Comments from Citizens, the Commissioners heard continued complaints about defunding the 4-H Extension Service District, questions about Public Health funding in the next budget cycle, concerns about the recent E. coli outbreak that claimed the life of a young Grants Pass girl and the identification of a new mosquito in Jackson County, and praise for declaring September 17th-23rd as "US Constitution Week." Commissioner Andreas Blech read the proclamation. One citizen announced that a special commemoration of Patriot Day to honor those who died on September 11, 2001, will be held today at 1 p.m. in front of the Grants Pass Courthouse.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley man for allegedly roughing up his mother last night. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 42-year-old male subject at a home in the 2100-block of Caves Highway on Tuesday at 8:58 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her son punched her in the face and forced her to the ground. The woman said she was in pain, but she denied medical attention. According to the report, the victim said her son had been taking his medications and he had no access to any weapons. Upon arrival, deputies documented the victim's injuries before placing the suspect into custody. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police incarcerated a well-known criminal offender for violating his probation after spotting him at a downtown park late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers observed a 42-year-old male subject they identified as "Anthony James Fish" at Debo Park on SW G Street on Tuesday at 5:40 p.m.. Police said they were informed by Fish's corrections officer that he was wanted for Probation Violation related to recent arrests for Resisting Arrest and Escape. The suspect left the park on a bicycle and officers followed him west on G Street and through alleyways in the area of SW Jordan Street. Fish was contacted by officers at the entrance to an alley and he surrendered to them in the presence of K-9 "Kick." Fish was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Probation Violation and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man on local warrants while performing a welfare check on a young girl in the southeast part of the city yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 25-year-old male subject in the 800-block of Fruitdale Drive on Tuesday at 3:53 p.m.. Police said a man requested a welfare check on his 6-year-old daughter who lives with her mother and the male subject at the residence. They said the caller told them that he is not allowed to go to the home and he is afraid for her safety. Officers performed the welfare check and determined the little girl was okay. During the investigation, officers discovered that the male subject was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Unlawful Use of a Weapon plus a misdemeanor warrant for Driving While Suspended and Petty Theft. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail on $25,000 bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two people for different reasons at a supermarket in downtown Cave Junction late yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, the first incident occurred on Tuesday at 5:55 p.m. at the Shop Smart market in the 200-block of West Watkins Street. Deputies said they spotted 34-year-old Christopher Wayne Powers and knew that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Identity Theft and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card. Powers was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $25,000 bail. The second incident happened on Tuesday at 10:10 p.m. when deputies responded to a trespassing complaint at Shop Smart. Deputies said 30-year-old Carly Brooke Jensen was highly intoxicated when she trespassed at the store and was trying to fight people in the parking lot. She was detained because her corrections officer said she did not check in yesterday and she had been drinking. Jensen was lodged at the jail facility for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and Felony Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for 3rd-Degree Robbery. She was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show she has been arrested eight times for violating her post-prison supervision since September 2023.