Local News

A Portland area truck driver escaped serious injury when he crashed a commercial vehicle on Interstate 5 on Mount Sexton early yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle accident in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 70 shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday. Troopers said an investigation revealed the 55-year-old Clackamas man was driving a Peterbilt semi-truck and trailer when he fell asleep at the wheel and veered off the freeway, crashing into a speed sign. According to OSP, the trucker was not hurt, the semi sustained only minor damage and it did not need to be towed. The Oregon Department of Transportation responded to assist state troopers. It appears no citations were issued.

 

The Medford Police Department has jailed a suspect in a shooting incident that occurred earlier this week. MPD officers arrested 20-year-old Elijia Zeigler on Tuesday following a shooting that occurred in Medford on Monday night. MPD Deputy Chief Trevor Arnold said the incident stemmed from a dispute between the victim and Zeigler that originated at a party in Ashland over the weekend. During the altercation, Zeigler allegedly stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the victim. Arnold said the victim was driving in the 1900-block of Gene Cameron Way on Monday when Zeigler fired two shots at the victim's vehicle as it drove by. Both rounds impacted the vehicle, but no injuries were sustained from the shooting. Shell casings fired from a handgun were recovered by patrol officers and an MPD detective was called to the scene to investigate. Zeigler was interviewed and then subsequently arrested. He was lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Attempted Murder, 1st-Degree Attempted Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Reckless Endangering. Anyone with further information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the MPD Criminal Investigation Division at (541)-774-2208.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Grants Pass man for roughing up his mother at a Redwood area residence this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 2300-block of Dowell Road on Tuesday afternoon. Deputies said an elderly woman called 9-1-1 to report that her 64-year-old son had become physically aggressive with her while pushing her up against a wall in the home. The caller said she was not seriously hurt and declined medical attention. Upon arrival, deputies located the man in his bedroom where his ex-wife was trying to calm him down. Why the man became aggressive with this mother was not disclosed, but he was immediately placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment and Menacing, both Constituting Domestic Violence. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed two people on outstanding warrants this week after a disturbance at a north-city motel. The Police Department reports officers responded to reports of a man and woman chasing each other in the parking lot of Motel 6 on NE 7th Street around midday Tuesday. There were no injuries reported in the skirmish. Police said they contacted a 36-year-old man regarding the incident involving his 34-year-old girlfriend at the motel. It was discovered that he was wanted on three outstanding warrants from Jackson, Marion and Polk counties that included alleged crimes of Forgery, Identity Theft and Contempt of Court. He was lodged in jail on the warrants plus a new charge of Methamphetamine Possession. Officers contacted the female half of the disturbance and discovered that she was wanted on a Columbia County warrant for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and a St. Helens Police Department warrant for Criminal Trespass. She was also lodged in jail. Property in the couples' room was placed in the male suspect's vehicle and both parties were trespassed from Motel 6.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a "frequent flyer" for violating terms of her post-prison supervision this week while investigating a trespassing call at a local trailer park. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the complaint at Rogue Valley Overnighters in the 1800-block of NW 6th Street on Tuesday afternoon. Police said the RV park manager reported that a 34-year-old female subject was banging on his door and cussing at him so he wanted her trespassed. The caller said the woman picked up some rocks in a ditch behind a trailer and started walking toward the postal facility on NW Washington Boulevard. That's where officers caught up to the woman and told her she was under arrest. She reportedly kept walking away from them until they eventually placed her into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation and she was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records indicate the woman has been arrested at least eight times for Parole Violation since last September.

 

The Williams Rural Fire Protection District assisted a property owner whose outdoor debris burn escaped and threatened to spread into the nearby wildland. On Tuesday evening, Williams firefighters were contacted by a resident who lives on the dead end stretch of St. Parris Road regarding an escaped burn. The resident said he was burning debris when embers from the fire went into the top of a standing snag and the dead tree caught on fire. The quick-thinking man used a chainsaw to cut down the burning snag and ran water to the site to put out the flames before fire crews arrived on scene. Williams fire officials said crews helped the landowner cut up the downed snag and made sure the fire was completely out before clearing the scene.

 

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Grants Pass Urban Tree Advisory Committee due to a vacancy. The position will expire in April 2025. The purpose of the Urban Tree Advisory Committee is to review, develop and implement programs and activities that promote, protect and enhance the urban forest in Grants Pass as part of the Tree City USA program. The special qualification for this position is interest in the promotion and enhancement of the urban forest. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5th. Applications will be reviewed by the committee on Monday, June 10th. The Grants Pass City Council will make the appointment during its meeting on Wednesday, July 3rd.

 

Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel honored three members of his staff for their roles in the apprehension of a murder suspect in south Grants Pass late last year. Sheriff Daniel presented Medals of Honor to Deputy Bayard and Corporal Porter and a Medal of Valor to Deputy Wolf during the Josephine County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday. In a brief recap of the December 2023 incident, the sheriff said Deputy Bayard spotted a vehicle occupied by Kelly Lynn Mason who was wanted for a November 21st homicide in the 1400-block of Rogue River Highway. The deputy followed the suspect vehicle and alerted other law enforcement agencies. Corporal Porter and Deputy Wolf attempted a high-risk traffic stop, but the suspect fled so Porter used a PIT maneuver to disable Mason's vehicle on Redwood Highway at Allen Creek Road. A close-quarters gunfight between the suspect and law enforcement followed, with the suspect being killed. Porter sustained minor injuries in the fight. The Board held a public hearing for two annexations to the Illinois Valley Fire District. The Board approved the annexations unanimously, increasing the size of the district by nearly 89 acres.

 

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has announced the approval of nearly $23 million toward creating 157 new homes across the state, with one of the largest developments destined for Medford. The Turning Point Program in Medford is receiving just over $6 million toward the Breath of Life development of 38 housing units. OHCS officials said this and other investments will continue to establish concrete pathways for Oregonians to pursue homeownership. This year, OHCS changed how it grants Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) homeownership funding for the development of new affordable homes through a rolling application process. OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell said by providing multiple opportunities for developers to apply for funding instead of all at once, this new process can help accelerate new construction timelines in service to getting homes into communities faster, especially in rural areas. In fact, 30% of the awarded projects will be built in rural communities. Since the creation of the program in 2018, $71.3 million in LIFT funds have resulted in 47 projects with a total of 752 homes that are affordable to Oregonians.