Local News

UPDATE: MOREFIRE HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND IS NO LONGER MISSING.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking public assistance in locating a missing woman. Sheriff's officials said they received a Monday report that 39-year-old Morefire Zyerin Stilke has not had contact with her family since July of this year. She was last known to be residing in the Cave Junction area. At this time, officials said there is very limited information about her potential whereabouts. Stilke is described as a white female adult, 5-feet-7-inches tall and 180 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on Morefire Stilke is encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

 

A Josephine County man was jailed on a local felony warrant and he may be facing additional charges after he led a multi-agency pursuit in the North Valley area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and the Oregon State Police arrested 25-year-old Griffan Ian Lucas in a field next to Interstate 5 in the Hugo area on Monday afternoon. Deputies said the incident started with a Monday morning call from a property owner in the 600-block of Oxyoke Road who reported that someone broke into his minivan. A short time later, a caller reported their surveillance camera caught a male subject trying to break into their house and another caller reported that multiple cigarette lighters had been stolen off their back porch in recent weeks. An investigation led deputies to a property in the 700-block of Mossy Oak Drive where Lucas bolted out the back door when they tried to enter the residence. The suspect ran down Mossy Oak to El Conejo and toward I-5 where he was believed to be hunkered down in the brush. The Sheriff's Office brought in a K-9 officer and the Oregon State Police deployed a drone to search for the suspect from the air. After an extensive search of the area, Lucas was located and he struggled with law enforcement as they placed him into custody. Further investigation led police to the suspect's home where he had hidden numerous stolen items including cell phones, Ipads and more in a tree house. The items were seized as evidence in the case. Lucas had several cuts from eluding law enforcement, so he was checked out by medics before being lodged in jail on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and for Escape. He is likely facing additional charges from the residential and vehicle burglaries.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for multiple crimes after a strange incident on Illinois River Road west of Selma this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted and arrested 55-year-old John Christopher Latch on Illinois River Road below the Six Mile Campground on Monday night. Deputies said dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call from two women who reported a male subject with a red suitcase and a sleeping mat lying in the middle of Illinois River Road. The man had been there for several hours and he refused to speak to one woman who asked if he was okay. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Latch was wanted on warrants out of the state of Washington -- but authorities there said the warrants were not extraditable. It was also learned that the subject had been flagged as hostile and was known to carry a baseball bat and razors. None of those weapons were found, but the subject was uncooperative and struggled with deputies as they placed him into custody. Latch refused to wear a seatbelt as he was transported to Grants Pass. He was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for three counts of Felony Aggravated Harassment and one count of Disorderly Conduct. Aggravated Harassment usually indicates that a suspect spit on law enforcement.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a local felon on an outstanding warrant and for a weapon crime while investigating an illegal camping complaint on the east side of the city. The Police Department reports officers contacted and arrested 44-year-old Donn Reeves Fincher on NE Fairview Avenue on Monday. Police said they received multiple calls about a man and woman who were staying in a green tent in the middle of the sidewalk along Fairview. They contacted both and discovered that Fincher was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. The woman was not identified. During a consent search, Fincher was found to be in possession of a spring-assisted knife which was seized as evidence. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing any type of weapon. Fincher was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. His tent and personal belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

A South Carolina man and his passenger escaped injury when their vehicle struck a bear on Interstate 5 in the North Valley area this week. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the mishap in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 63 on Monday night. Troopers said a 32-year-old man from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was driving a Chevrolet Malibu when he struck a bear that was on the freeway. They said the driver and his 29-year-old female passenger from Lennon, Michigan, were not hurt. According to OSP, the driver was warned for Violating the Basic Rule which indicates he was driving too fast for the conditions. The man arranged for his own tow through the automobile rental company. No word on the condition of the bear.

 

There is only one action item on the agenda for the Josephine County Board of Commissioners for its weekly business session this morning. The Commissioners will hold a public hearing for an annexation to the Josephine Community Library District by petition of the landowner. In this case, it’s a 5.33-acre property on Cloverlawn Drive. The Board will start the session with its monthly recognition of employees. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens in which people are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic related to Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is reopening the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) online application portal to accept final applications directly from homeowners. Applications must be submitted by October 31st. New applications will be put on a wait-list and prioritized for homeowners most at risk of foreclosure or loss. Homeowners can now review application criteria and apply directly online using a link on the HAF website, which is "oregonhomeownerassistance.org." HAF offers federal temporary COVID-19 pandemic relief to help homeowners who experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic. HAF can help them become current on their mortgages, county taxes, homeowners' associations, land sale contracts, secured manufacture home or floating home loans, and lot rent or moorage fees associated with homeowners in manufactured home parks or marinas. Financial hardship includes a reduction in income or an increase in housing costs resulting from the pandemic. Homeowners are eligible to apply if they meet the program's general eligibility criteria and are facing foreclosure, involved in a court case that threatens their home,

 

The Josephine County Clerk's Office has released its schedule for reporting the results of the November 5th General Election. Unofficial results will be posted on the Josephine County website and the Oregon Secretary of State's website at "results.oregon.gov." The initial results of the General Election will be available shortly after 8 p.m. on November 5th, with a second set of results available by 5 p.m. on November 6th. Subsequent returns will be posted on November 8th, November 13th, November 20th and November 27th -- all by 5 p.m.. The certified results will be posted no later than 5 p.m. on December 2nd. The schedule is subject to change dependent on the receipt of completed ballots. For more information about the November 5th General Election, please visit "josephinecounty.gov."

 

The Britt Music & Arts Festival has announced a special discount for local students for its final concert of the season. The Britt season typically lasts from June to September, but the 2024 season is wrapping up a little later than usual with the final concert happening on Monday. The October 14th concert features soul sensation Michael Kiwanuka and Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard. As part of Britt's ongoing commitment to make world-class music accessible to all, this offer provides students the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable night of "live" music at a reduced price. Students can save $20 on Reserved, Standing Room Only or Lawn seats. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Britt Main Office in Medford or over the phone at (541)-773-6077 with a valid student ID.