Local News

A motorist found themself in a dangerous predicament last night when their vehicle became stuck on the railroad tracks in the Hugo area. On Thursday at 7:06 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department was dispatched to the incident on the tracks near Jess Way and Russell Road. For unknown reasons, officials said the driver veered off the roadway onto the tracks and became high-centered on the rails. After halting all train traffic, Rural Metro crews stood by until Caveman Towing removed the vehicle. There were no injuries.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department's Swift Water Rescue Team has issued an advanced "Flood Watch" alert to all residents living in low-lying areas of Josephine County. The alert is for all residents in low-lying areas as well as those living anywhere near active streams or rivers to be aware of potential flooding in the coming days. Rural Metro officials said it is unknown what impact water levels will have as it may be location-specific. As suggested by the National Weather Service, this alert extends until Monday. It is recommended that anyone in a known flood zone should plan ahead for rapidly rising water levels and take precautions now such as sandbag placement for water diversion. For more information regarding sandbags, visit "rvem.or/News/sandbags-faq."

 

Pacific Power is monitoring the winter storm that could impact customers across their Southern Oregon and Northern California service area this weekend. The forecast weather indicates the potential for moderate to heavy rain with gusty winds, which could cause power outages along the coast, southwest Oregon and the southern Willamette Valley. Pacific Power's meteorology team is closely monitoring the storm and crews are on standby to respond to weather-related outages. The Illinois Valley Fire District on Thursday responded to numerous incidents from the storm including downed powerlines, road closures due to fallen trees and medical emergencies. Pacific Power encourages customers to always be prepared for outages and it supports state and local emergency management organizations, recommending Oregonians have an emergency plan for up to 72 hours without essential services. Update your contact information so Pacific Power can reach you; sign up to receive outage alerts by text, email or phone; restock your outage kit; keep mobile devices charged so that they may be used in an emergency; track outages, update contact information and do more with their free app; and text OUT to 722797 to report your outage or STAT to check status. Call 9-1-1 and report the outage to Pacific Power at 1-(877)-508-5088.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County declined in November by 160 jobs, but it showed a modest gain over the past year. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 33,899 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.6%, which was the same as in October and up from 5.3% in November 2023. Private-sector industries losing jobs in November were leisure & hospitality, manufacturing and financial activities. Private education & health services gained 40 jobs over the month. Both retail trade and transportation, warehousing & utilities added 20 jobs last month. Local government education employment increased by 20 jobs while federal government and local government excluding educational services each lost 10 jobs. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County increased by 80 jobs, a gain of 0.3%. Industries adding jobs since November 2023 included private education & health services, transportation, warehousing & utilities, and financial activities. Industries with estimated losses were manufacturing, professional & business services, construction, and leisure & hospitality.

 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Officer 1 Academy -- hosted by Rogue Interagency Training Association -- recently finished its two-week course. The academy is dedicated to the development of firefighters who have taken the next step in commanding and directing other firefighters in the mission to control fires and mitigate emergencies across Josephine and Jackson counties. Rural Metro Fire Department is proud to have had three students in the academy who have joined the ranks of over a dozen other Fire Officers at the private agency who are dedicated to the protection of our community. Rural Metro congratulates Firefighters Parker, Sutters and Teague for their successful completion of the academy. They look forward to their leadership in their mission to protect those who have trusted them to be there when needed.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for threatening a woman with a knife on Christmas Eve morning. The Police Department reports officers arrested 54-year-old Michael Eric Maxwell for the incident at a home in the 2100-block of NW North Hill Drive on Tuesday at 10:09 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that Maxwell approached her in an aggressive manner, began yelling, presented a knife above his shoulder, walked back into his residence and then left on foot. A friend of the victim corroborated her story. Officers located Maxwell a short time later and detained him near the corner of NW Hawthorne Avenue and Vine Street. He did not have a knife on him and initially would not speak to them. He later denied consent to search his residence for the knife and denied that the incident had occurred. After consulting with the District Attorney's Office, officers placed Maxwell into custody and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Menacing. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for violating terms of her probation following reports of suspicious activity at the Grants Pass Shopping Center. According to the Police Department, officers responded to multiple reports of a female subject checking the doors of parked vehicles at the shopping center on Tuesday around 3:40 p.m.. Police said the woman -- later identified as 41-year-old Lacy Jo Martinez -- was reported to be weaving in and around parked vehicles in front of TJ Maxx and Ulta. One person reported that she removed a purse from one of the vehicles. Officers arrived on scene, contacted Martinez and determined the purse belonged to her. However, a routine records check revealed she was on probation following a 2020 arrest for an unspecified crime in a neighboring county. After notifying Martinez's corrections officer about the incident, police placed her into custody and lodged her at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for multiple crimes after he was caught doing some last-minute Christmas shoplifting at Walmart. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint involving 37-year-old Bradley Andrew Peckham at the store on NE Terry Lane on Tuesday around 5:30 p.m.. Police said Peckham was observed stealing items in Walmart by loss prevention. They said he left the property and was located walking away through the Fred Meyer alley. After being told multiple times that he was under arrest, he refused to stop and walked across the Grants Pass Parkway where he halted traffic. Upon arrival of additional officers, Peckham actively resisted being placed into custody so he was escorted to the ground to prevent injury. He was not hurt. Peckham was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest, Escape, Disorderly Conduct, 3rd-Degree Theft and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. After being trespassed from Walmart, he was being held without bail

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended two local fugitives on Christmas Eve Day despite their efforts to hide from law enforcement. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred on Tuesday at 7:41 a.m. when officers arrested 50-year-old Sean William MacDowell at the A-1 Market & Deli on NE 7th Street where he was sleeping behind the store. MacDowell was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Larceny. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The second incident happened on Tuesday at 2:42 p.m. when officers arrested 47-year-old Jeffery Neil Larson at the Crest Motel on NE 6th Street. Larson was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Upon contact, he was found to be in possession of a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue. Larson was lodged in jail on the warrant and the drug possession charge was referred to the District Attorney for consideration.