Local News

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday removed four outdated ordinances from the County Code and amended a current ordinance. The Board voted unanimously to repeal ordinances pertaining to attorney fees, utility consumer choice, sanitary landfills and the designation of county-owned property as sanitary landfills. The votes followed four brief public hearings. Assistant Legal Counsel Leah Harper testified that the removed ordinances date as far back as 1964 and they are unnecessary as they are outdated or no longer being used. The Commissioners also voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an amendment to an existing ordinance related to emergency medical services. Harper testified that the ordinance would be updated with some language deleted and a new section would be added for medical transport of timber employees injured on the job. The second reading and adoption is scheduled for September 18th. Under Administrative Actions, the Board approved a revision in the bylaws for the Emergency Medical Services Board and a renewal of the ambulance services contract with American Medical Response.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry has announced it is reinstating "extreme" fire danger in Josephine and Jackson counties tomorrow. Due to dry vegetation, hot conditions and numerous active fires in the region, ODF will increase the fire danger level from "high" to "extreme" at 12:01 a.m. Friday. ODF officials said fire danger decreased to "high" in the local district following significant rainfall in late August. But due to increased temperatures, dry fuels and the potential for east winds, the fire danger is returning to "extreme." Starting Friday, the use of power saws; the cutting, grinding and welding of metal; and the mowing of dry or dead grass is completely prohibited. Operation of all other spark-emitting internal combustion engines is also banned. All other fire season restrictions continue including bans on outdoor debris burning as well as open fires in areas of flammable vegetation. For more information about fire season restrictions in Josephine and Jackson counties, please visit "swofire.com."

 

Grants Pass Fire & Rescue is introducing the community's new wildland fire engine during a traditional ceremony known as a "Push Back" on Friday. The event is scheduled for tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Parkway Fire Station, located at 800 East Park Street. The tradition of pushing a fire truck into the station dates back to the time of horse-drawn equipment when firefighters had to push the fire pumpers into the station because horses couldn't back up the equipment. Grants Pass acquired the new Type 3 wildland engine from the Oregon State Fire Marshal. The International cab, 500-gallon pumper is designed for rapid wildland fire extinguishment as well as urban response. OSFM will retain ownership of the apparatus, while Grants Pass Fire & Rescue will handle housing, staffing, responding, insuring and maintaining the apparatus for three years. This was made possible through the OSFM Engine Program funded by Senate Bill 762.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry is responding with Jackson County Fire District #5 and Ashland Fire & Rescue to a fast-moving grass fire near milepost 11.5 of Interstate 5 on the southbound side. Firefighters are arriving on scene and engaging in an aggressive initial attack. ODF reports additional resources are en route including the SW District aircraft. Two air tanker drops have also been ordered. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office has issued a Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation order for Zone JAC-542 and a Level 2 "Be Set" evacuation notice for Zone JAC-541. Motorists should be aware of firefighters working in this area. The Oregon Department of Transportation has temporarily closed I-5 southbound at Exit 14 in Ashland.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning removed four outdated ordinances from the County Code and amended a current ordinance. The Board voted unanimously to repeal ordinances pertaining to attorney fees, utility consumer choice, sanitary landfills and the designation of county-owned property as sanitary landfills. The votes followed four brief public hearings. Assistant Legal Counsel Leah Harper testified that the removed ordinances date as far back as 1964 and they are unnecessary as they are outdated or no longer being used. The Commissioners also voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an amendment to an existing ordinance related to emergency medical services. Harper testified that the ordinance would be updated with some language deleted and a new section would be added for medical transport of timber employees injured on the job. The second reading and adoption is scheduled for September 18th. Under Administrative Actions, the Board approved a revision in the bylaws for the Emergency Medical Services Board and a renewal of the ambulance services contract with American Medical Response. Assistant Legal Counsel Stephanie Nutall opened the meeting with a presentation on the requirements for annexation and withdrawal from special districts based on questions regarding the Josephine Community Library District. Last December, the Board approved a library withdrawal petition from Mike and Winnie Pelfrey -- but the approval went against Oregon Statutes and it was reversed earlier this year. Nutall said that state laws on district annexations and withdrawals both require a petition signed by the lesser of 15% or 100 electors or the greater of 15 owners or owners of 10% of the acreage of the subject property. The difference, she said, is withdrawals require 15% or 100 electors of the district while annexations require the majority of owners of the subject property only.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry has announced it is reinstating "extreme" fire danger in Josephine and Jackson counties on Friday. Due to dry vegetation, hot conditions and numerous active fires in the region, ODF will increase the fire danger level from "high" to "extreme" at 12:01 a.m. Friday. ODF officials said fire danger decreased to "high" in the local district following significant rainfall in late August. But due to increased temperatures, dry fuels and the potential for east winds, the fire danger is returning to "extreme." The regulations impact 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and BLM lands protected by ODF's Southwest District. Starting Friday, the use of power saws; the cutting, grinding and welding of metal; and the mowing of dry or dead grass is completely prohibited. Operation of all other spark-emitting internal combustion engines is also banned. All other fire season restrictions continue including bans on outdoor debris burning as well as open fires in areas of flammable vegetation. Motor vehicles -- including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles -- may only be used on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except when used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops. Smoking is prohibited while traveling except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other designated locations. For more information about fire season restrictions in Josephine and Jackson counties, please visit "swofire.com."

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for stealing mail and casing homes in the North Valley area late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 30-year-old male subject near the corner of Pleasant Valley Road and Monument Drive on Tuesday at 4:41 p.m.. Deputies said multiple residents called 9-1-1 to report a "scruffy" man was getting into mailboxes and trespassing while looking around houses in the area. The callers advised the subject had several items stuffed into his pockets as he walked along Pleasant Valley Road. Upon arrival, deputies located the suspect on the shoulder of the road and advised him to stop walking, which he did. He was ordered to remove his hands from his pockets, which he also did. However, he refused to speak to deputies and ignored them while standing still. Due to his behavior, deputies called for backup from the Oregon State Police and two troopers responded to assist. The man identified as "Michael Jeffrey Richards" was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Mail Theft and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing merchandise from Fred Meyer late yesterday following a traffic stop on Redwood Highway. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a Nissan Pathfinder containing the 35-year-old male subject at a gas station on US Highway 199 near Ringuette Street on Tuesday around 4:45 p.m.. Police said Fred Meyer loss prevention officers advised a man wearing a white tank top had stolen more than $640 worth of items by placing them in a purple bag, exiting the store and getting into the Nissan. The SUV was last seen heading south on the Grants Pass Parkway, so officers fanned out to look for the vehicle. During the traffic stop, the suspect was found to be a passenger in the Nissan and he admitted to taking the items without paying for them. He was captured on video surveillance committing the crime and was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. He was also trespassed from Fred Meyer, which recovered the stolen items.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding local warrant last night after he was reported to be engaging in bad behavior in the Redwood area. According to the Police Department, officers placed the 24-year-old male subject into custody in the 1900-block of Redwood Avenue on Tuesday around 8 p.m.. Police said they received several reports of the subject walking in and out of traffic while drinking an alcoholic beverage. They said the man had caused a disturbance at a local convenience store, he was hitting things and kicking his dog before he threw the bottle at passing motorists. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Upon contact with police, the subject initially provided a false name before telling them he had a warrant and wanted to be detained. Officers confirmed that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Mischief, so he was placed into custody. The subject identified as "Andrew Benito Cruz-Martinez" was lodged in jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Furnishing False Information to Police. His dog was taken to the Animal Shelter.