Local News

Firefighters knocked down another small vegetation fire near Cave Junction on Thursday. The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry responded to the reported grass fire on Shadywood Drive shortly after 11 a.m. yesterday. IVFD and ODF crews made quick work of the blaze, extinguishing and mopping it up in short order. Units stayed on scene into the early afternoon hours to ensure it was completely out. No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened. The cause of the fire was under investigation. A similar small vegetation fire was extinguished by IVFD and ODF on Holland Loop Road on Wednesday.

 

The City of Grants Pass Economic Development Division cordially invites citizens to a Business Listening Session for the Redwood Highway area next week. The Business Listening Session is set for Tuesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the upstairs meeting space of Cascade Springs Meadow Retirement Community at 1357 Redwood Circle. City officials said this session will provide an excellent opportunity for local businesses to share ideas, express concerns, ask questions and gain insights into support organizations and available resources. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by contacting Economic Development Manager Dana Pearce at (541)-450-6014 or by e-mail at dpearce@grantspassoregon.gov."

 

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Grants Pass Urban Tree Advisory Committee due to a vacancy. This volunteer position will expire in April 2025. This committee's purpose is to review, develop and implement programs and activities that promote, protect and enhance the urban forest as part of the Tree City USA program. 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 Friday, August 2nd.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry is managing two wildfires that erupted late yesterday on opposite sides of Jackson County. ODF reports the first fire broke out along Highway 62 south of Shady Cove while the second started a short time later in the 3900-block of Upper Applegate Road. As of 10:20 p.m. Thursday, the Highway 62 Fire was holding at 75 acres and was 40% lined. More than 60 firefighters were assigned to the blaze overnight. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office has placed a Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notice in the area of Highway 62 and Hammel Road. The Upper Applegate Fire was estimated to be 120 acres and was only 5% lined. More than 90 personnel were assigned to the wildfire overnight. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office has placed a Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notice from Eastside Road south of Little Applegate Road to north of McKee Bridge. In both incidents, ODF officials said afternoon and evening winds fanned the flames, causing both fires to grow despite an aggressive initial attack that included the first use of a large air tanker this year. Fire behavior decreased after sunset on both incidents and crews were working overnight toward full containment. According to ODF, the causes of both fires were under investigation.

 

As the weather warms up and fire danger increases, the Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has implemented public use restrictions on lands it manages in Southern Oregon. As of Thursday, certain activities on BLM-managed lands in Josephine and Jackson counties are restricted to prevent human-caused fires and to reduce the overall wildfire potential. Campfires are only allowed at the Hyatt Lake Campground and the lower section of the Rogue River below the high-water mark. In all other areas, visitors can use portable cooking stoves that utilize liquefied or bottled fuels. Otherwise, campfires or any other type of open fire -- including the use of charcoal briquettes -- is banned until further notice. Smoking is only allowed while inside a vehicle or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is clear of flammable vegetation. Operating a motor vehicle and parking off-road is only allowed on roadways clear of flammable vegetation. Using fireworks, exploding targets or tracer ammunition is prohibited. Using a chain saw or other equipment with internal combustion engines for any type of operation is prohibited between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.. For updated information on public use restrictions, visit "blm.gov/orwafire."

 

The Mt. Ashland Ski Area is now open for the summer season. The mountain lodge opens its restaurant and retail shop to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Labor Day. The restaurant serves hot entrees, ice cream and adult beverages. The ski area will offer events throughout the summer including movie nights, tie-dye events, a disc golf tournament and other activities for all ages. Mt. Ashland is also launching an Alpine Adventure program for kids. Children ages 8-13 can enroll in camps and mini-camps including hiking, nature, arts and crafts, and mountain sports. The resort also invites interested youth groups to take field trips for mountain programs during the week. The summer season for Mt. Ashland comes on the heels of a successful ski season that saw more than 95,000 visitors for skiing and snowboarding. The local ski area had the most successful spring season pass sale in its history, surpassing the previous record by 10.5%. For more information, visit "mtashland.com."

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office got an assist from the Oregon State Police in tracking down and arresting a North Valley man wanted in a felony assault case. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and state troopers arrested 41-year-old Brian Edward Simpson at a home in the 7,000-block of Monument Drive on Wednesday at 7:01 p.m.. Deputies said they were on patrol when they spotted a silver Dodge Challenger known to be associated with Simpson near the intersection of Pleasant Valley and Merlin roads. The suspect fled on Merlin Road toward Interstate 5, so deputies contacted OSP to watch for him in the area of the freeway. The Sheriff's Office and OSP continued to search the area of Monument Drive until they once again spotted the suspect vehicle, swooped in and placed Simpson into custody. No information on the details of the case have been disclosed. Simpson was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Assault, which is defined under Oregon law as "intentionally or knowingly causing serious physical injury to another person with a deadly or dangerous weapon." He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a North Valley woman for attacking her boyfriend at a Hugo area residence last night. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested the 30-year-old female subject for the incident in the 6900-block of Tunnel Loop Road on Wednesday at 10 p.m.. Deputies said the male victim called 9-1-1 to report the attack in which the woman reportedly hit him with a piece of metal and threatened him with a butter knife. He also told dispatchers that his girlfriend hit him in the face with an old-fashioned camera lens. He said he shoved her because he thought she was going to stab him. Responding deputies contacted the man and confirmed his injuries, but he declined medical treatment. They found the woman walking up the driveway and placed her into custody in short order. No other information was available. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. She was being held without bail.

 

An elderly Grants Pass man was arrested last night for trying to fight with police officers who responded to an incident at the man's northwest-city residence. The Police Department reports officers were on patrol on Wednesday at about 6:45 p.m. when they observed the 83-year-old man striking a male transient while trying to kick him off his property in the 1300-block of NW Hawthorne Avenue. Police said the elderly man was intoxicated while trying to physically evict the transient who had established a campsite on his property. No one was seriously hurt. While trying to separate the combatants, officers said the older man came at them in an aggressive manner and attempted to strike them with a closed fist. After being placed into custody, he then tried to "mule kick" the officers. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Assault on a Police Officer. He was being held without bail. The unidentified transient was advised to leave and he was trespassed from the property.