Local News

The Oregon State Police arrested two motorists for impaired driving over the weekend in Josephine County. According to OSP, the first incident occurred on Friday at 4:51 p.m. when state troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of Interstate near milepost 69 on Mount Sexton. Troopers said a 30-year-old Grants Pass man was driving a Kia Frontier when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed. No one was hurt, but the driver displayed extreme signs of impairment. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly four times the legal driving limit. He was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving before being lodged at the Sobering Center. His wrecked vehicle was impounded and towed to Grants Pass. The second incident occurred on Friday at 8:07 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Honda Accord driven by a 33-year-old Grants Pass man on Redwood Highway near Reeves Creek Road. Troopers said they stopped the car for a traffic violation and the driver showed signs of impairment. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Cave Junction Substation where he provided a breath sample that was well over twice the legal drlving limit. He was cited and released for DUII-Alcohol, Reckless Driving and Driving While Suspended. His car was parked and secured.

 

Due to the ongoing heatwave, the Mobile Integrative Navigation (MINT) is reopening its Grants Pass Cooling Center for at least two more days. Forecasted temperatures of 100 degrees and higher today and Tuesday have triggered a Grants Pass Severe Weather Event Declaration. MINT plans to provide cooling services from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and tomorrow at its Parker Place location at 218 Redwood Highway next to Bi-Mart. The City of Grants Pass does not operate severe weather event shelters, but assists groups like MINT that can operate such shelters.

 

Firefighters from multiple agencies responded to and extinguished a large weekend structure fire in Cave Junction. The Illinois Valley Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry and American Medical Response were dispatched to the reported house on fire in the 400-block of Laurel Road on Saturday at 8:38 p.m.. IVFD Chief John Holmes said arriving units found a three-story home with fire and smoke showing. Due to the extent of the fire, Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue assisted in the operations. ODF assisted crews by cutting a pathway through the shrubbery for suppression crews to deploy hose lines. Chief Holmes said the fire was extinguished and was checked on overnight. He said the American Red Cross was activated for one adult and one dog who were not harmed in the fire. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry knocked down a small grass fire in the O'Brien area. On Saturday at 5:45 p.m., IVFD and ODF crews were dispatched to a reported grass fire in the 300-block of O'Brien Road. IVFD officials said arriving units found flames in flashy fuels and trees, with a moderate rate of spread. Crews quickly stopped the progress of the fire and estimated it was caught at approximately 1.25 acres. Numerous engines continued to respond as well as a Type 2 helicopter, which assisted in looking for potential spot fires. None were found. Rural Metro Fire Department was moved up to cover the local fire district. ODF officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office cited a teen motorist for causing a crash that sent at least one person to the hospital late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle collision in the 3900-block of Jerome Prairie Road at 5:33 p.m. Friday. Deputies said witnesses reported that a Toyota Tacoma driven by a 17-year-old boy was traveling at a high rate of speed, blew through a stop sign at Midway and plowed into a Ford Mustang with four occupants. At least one of the occupants was taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with unspecified injuries. It was unclear in the report whether anyone else involved the crash was hurt. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were towed from the scene. Following an investigation, the teenager was determined to be the at-fault driver. He was cited for Careless Driving Contributing to an Accident.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is reporting that scammers are beating the heat by staying indoors and trying to separate citizens from their money. Scammers are posing as employees of the Sheriff's Office and demanding payment for civil and criminal matters. The Sheriff's Office has received reports of an Officer Perry, Lieutenant Perry, Deputy Wolf, Deputy Cody or Deputy Diaz so far. They are using a pre-recorded message and instructing people to either call a number back to make payment or to take payment to various stores around the area and make a deposit in a kiosk. It appears the scammers are using an auto-dialer that keeps calling back. Simply block the number on your phone to stop them. Other common variations of this scam are being told you missed jury duty, a court appearance or you have a warrant and there is now a fine due immediately or you will be arrested. Often times, the scammers demand that you stay on the line with them until you have arrived at the destination where they instructed you to go. Sheriff's officials said law enforcement never operates in this fashion. Please share this information with your elderly family and friends and those who do not have social media.

 

The Grants Pass City Council has only two agenda items for its weekly workshop session today before it breaks for what appears to be a lengthy executive session. The City Council will hear and consider a motion from the Grants Pass Housing Advisory Committee before reviewing the agenda for Wednesday night's regular meeting. Mayor Sara Bristol will then convene a Special Meeting in Executive Session. The closed-door meeting contains two items: current or likely litigation and real property transactions or negotiations. Presumably, the first executive session item is related to the recent US Supreme Court ruling that affirms the city's right to restrict overnight camping in parks and other public spaces. Today's workshop begins at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

The Eagle Point Police Department has a new design for its patrol vehicles. Over the last 10 months, EPD has purchased and equipped three new Chevrolet Silverado Police Package vehicles in addition to updating the vehicle graphics design on the current fleet. Within the next few weeks, two Chevrolet Tahoe Police Package vehicles will also be placed in service for patrol use. EPD Chief Jim Hamilton said the change comes after assessing the status of the current patrol fleet and determining several vehicles were well past their safe service life. Thanks to the Eagle Point City Council's approval, the department ordered four vehicles last year with the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds to prevent an impact on the operating budget. Due to shortages in available police package SUVs, Chief Hamilton said EPD ordered the new Silverado vehicles to ensure replacements were available in their time of need. Once the new vehicles were ordered, EPD reached out to a local vehicle designer for assistance with a new look. Jason Hulst and the team of ERA3 agreed to provide a few ideas on how to upgrade the vehicles and create a more professional image. There was a desire to look at a more traditional "black and white" patrol vehicle. The concept was to create a design with a modern twist on the patrol vehicles of old. In addition to the new graphic design, reflective identification was also incorporated into the overall look. "POLICE" is clearly identifiable as is "Call 9-1-1." Hamilton said to look for these new vehicles to be patrolling the streets of Eagle Point and surrounding areas in the near future.

 

Jackson County is continuing work on the northern section of Foothill Road, not to be confused with Foothill Boulevard between Grants Pass and Rogue River. The closure of Coker Butte Road at Foothill Road will be lifted Saturday and Coker Butte is now open for traffic. The next scheduled closure starts today on Foothill Road between Coker Butte Road and Dry Creek Road. Only local traffic will have access throughout the closure which is anticipated to be completed by early September. Drivers will be detoured to East Vilas Road to Crater Lake Avenue and then Coker Butte Road. The City of Medford's portion of the project is continuing construction of the Foothill Road Improvement Project between Hillcrest and Delta Waters roads. Foothill Road will continue to be closed to through traffic at McAndrews Road and Cedar Links Drive while contractors perform work north of Normil Terrace to Cedar Links Drive.