Local News

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.

 

An Ashland woman escaped serious injury when she wrecked her car on Interstate 5 in the Sunny Valley area this week. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle rollover crash in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 73 on Monday evening. Troopers said the 20-year-old woman was driving a Ford Escort when she tried to avoid another vehicle that lost control in front of her. They said the Ford left the freeway on a sharp curve and struck the rock side-slope, which caused it to roll over and sustain heavy damage. According to OSP, the driver was not seriously hurt, but she was transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center as a precaution. Her wrecked car was towed to Grants Pass.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended an unsuspecting corrections client on a statewide felony warrant this week. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 47-year-old Jeremy Kyle McFarland at the Josephine County Community Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Monday afternoon. Police said an employee alerted them that McFarland was there to see his parole officer, but the officer was unavailable. The worker knew that the man was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a burglary conviction, so they stalled him until law enforcement could arrive on scene. Upon arrival, officers confirmed the warrant and placed McFarland into custody. He reportedly was unaware that he was wanted. McFarland was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Public hearings, administrative actions, orders and appointments fill the agenda for the Josephine County Board of Commissioners for its business session today. The Board will open the meeting with three public hearings designed to purge unneeded chapters from the Josephine County Code regarding property forfeiture, golf carts and septic tank sludge disposal. First readings of the ordinances were approved October 23rd. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will decide whether to approve a Sheriff's Office invoice for a police service dog. They will also consider whether to ratify American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects at the Illinois Valley Airport, Fleming Treatment Plant, Grants Pass Airport Hangars, Glencrest Village and the Fort Vannoy Irrigation District. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board will consider an order for setting new fees for services provided by several departments and setting a public hearing. The panel is also scheduled to make appointments to the Parks Advisory Board and the Law Enforcement Service District Citizens Advisory Committee. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Grants Pass City Council will take up items related to recreational vehicle parks, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Urban Renewal Agency at its regular meeting tonight. The City Council will open the meeting with a public hearing on an ordinance vacating a common property line between two tax lots for a proposed RV park on NE Agness Avenue. Under Council Action, the municipal policy-making panel will consider a motion appealing Sewer System Development Charges for the Hidden Valley RV Park on Rogue River Highway. In other action items, there are two resolutions to designate ARPA funds to help develop affordable housing and reallocate remaining funds to government services. Under the Consent Agenda, there are resolutions to enter into agreements for the purchase and up-fitting of four vehicles for the Grants Pass Police Department, and to enter into contracts for landscaping services at the Water Restoration Plant. The Council is also set to make appointments to the Parks Advisory Committee and Housing Advisory Committee. As the Urban Renewal Agency Board, the Council will consider resolutions that would award building rehabilitation and restoration grants. Tonight's meeting starts at 6 in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

Josephine County voters sided with the conservative majority in the November General Election, soundly defeating four money measures and likely putting several Republican-backed candidates into office. According to the second unofficial count released by the Josephine County Clerk's Office at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Measures 17-119, 17-121, 17-122 and 17-123 all were defeated by wide margins. That means no taxpayer funding for Veterans Services, Rogue Community College bonds, Three Rivers School District bonds or a transient lodging tax in Cave Junction. In the race for Josephine County Commissioner Position 2, Chris Barnett was defeating Colene Martin by a 54.7% to 44.8% margin. In the race for County Commissioner Position 3, Ron Smith was defeating Pat Fahey by a 53.4% to 46.2% tally. Mark DeYoung was leading incumbent Treasurer Eve Arce by 55% to 44.7%. For the City of Grants Pass, Clint Scherf was beating incumbent Mayor Sara Bristol by a 54.9% to 44.8% count. For City Council Ward 1, Indra Nicholas was defeating incumbent Brian DeLaGrange by 52% to 47.7%. In Ward 2, Victoria Marshall was beating Jay Meredith 55.6% to 44.10%. In Ward 4, it was Kathleen Krohn leading incumbent Vanessa Ogier 45.3% to 36%. For the City of Cave Junction, Jesse Dugas was leading Jean Ann Miles in the race for Mayor by a 55.2% to 43.9% tally. For Cave Junction City Council Position 2, it was incumbent Tina Casey Jones leading challenger Steven Strauss by a 55.5% to 43.56% count. As of last night, voter turnout was 70.94% in Josephine County. The next release of unofficial local election results is expected at 6 p.m. today.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department wants you to help put a "freeze" on fall and winter fires. Rural Metro officials said heating is the second-leading cause of home fires. If you heat with wood, oil or gas, install a carbon monoxide alarm and test it at least once a month. Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney each year. Store cooled ashes from the fire box in a tightly-covered metal container and keep it outside at least 10 feet away from your home or other combustible materials. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from any heat source like fireplaces, woodstoves, radiator or space heaters. Plug only one heat-producing device into an electrical outlet at a time. Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. Remember, working smoke alarms save lives. For more information, call Rural Metro at (541)-474-1218.

 

A generous donation in honor of the mother of Jackson County Fire District #1's Fire Chief has enhanced the swift water capabilities of Grants Pass Fire & Rescue. Grants Pass fire officials have announced the recent donation of a boat from Ron Loynds. It was dedicated in honor of Loynd's sister Patty and serves as a legacy of first responders in the Rogue Valley community. Patty -- who was also the beloved mother of District 1 Fire Chief Mike Hammonds of Rogue River -- left a lasting impact on the community through her generosity and service before her passing. Officials sincerely thank Ron Loynds and his family, Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic and the Grants Pass Fire team for their dedication to citizens and their crucial role in achieving this success.

 

Josephine County residents voted with the conservative majority in the November General Election, soundly defeating four money measures and apparently putting several newcomers into office. According to the first unofficial count released by the Josephine County Clerk's Office at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Measures 17-119, 17-121, 17-122 and 17-123 all were defeated by wide margins. That means no taxpayer funding for Veterans Services, Rogue Community College bonds, Three Rivers School District bonds or a transient lodging tax in Cave Junction. In the race for Josephine County Commissioner Position 2, Chris Barnett was defeating Colene Martin by a 54.62% to 44.90% margin. In the race for Commissioner Position 3, Ron Smith was defeating Pat Fahey by a 55.37% to 43.81% tally. For the City of Grants Pass, Clint Scherf was beating incumbent Mayor Sara Bristol by a 54.96% to 44.76% count. For City Council Ward 1, Indra Nicholas was defeating incumbent Brian DeLaGrange by 52.08% to 47.63%. In Ward 2, Victoria Marshall was beating Jay Meredith 55.58% to 44.10%. In Ward 4, it was Kathleen Krohn leading incumbent Vanessa Ogier 45.66% to 35.99%. For the City of Cave Junction, Jesse Dugas was leading Jean Ann Miles in the race for Mayor by a 55.37% to 43.81% tally. For Cave Junction City Council Position 2, it was incumbent Tina Casey Jones leading challenger Steven Strauss by a 55.52% to 43.58% count.