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Josephine County Voters Routing Money Measures and Putting Newcomers in Office

Josephine County voters sided with the conservative majority in the November General Election, soundly defeating four money measures and likely putting several Republican-backed candidates into office. According to the second unofficial count released by the Josephine County Clerk's Office at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Measures 17-119, 17-121, 17-122 and 17-123 all were defeated by wide margins. That means no taxpayer funding for Veterans Services, Rogue Community College bonds, Three Rivers School District bonds or a transient lodging tax in Cave Junction. In the race for Josephine County Commissioner Position 2, Chris Barnett was defeating Colene Martin by a 54.7% to 44.8% margin. In the race for County Commissioner Position 3, Ron Smith was defeating Pat Fahey by a 53.4% to 46.2% tally. Mark DeYoung was leading incumbent Treasurer Eve Arce by 55% to 44.7%. For the City of Grants Pass, Clint Scherf was beating incumbent Mayor Sara Bristol by a 54.9% to 44.8% count. For City Council Ward 1, Indra Nicholas was defeating incumbent Brian DeLaGrange by 52% to 47.7%. In Ward 2, Victoria Marshall was beating Jay Meredith 55.6% to 44.10%. In Ward 4, it was Kathleen Krohn leading incumbent Vanessa Ogier 45.3% to 36%. For the City of Cave Junction, Jesse Dugas was leading Jean Ann Miles in the race for Mayor by a 55.2% to 43.9% tally. For Cave Junction City Council Position 2, it was incumbent Tina Casey Jones leading challenger Steven Strauss by a 55.5% to 43.56% count. As of last night, voter turnout was 70.94% in Josephine County. The next release of unofficial local election results is expected at 6 p.m. today.

Posted on 11/6/24 5:58AM by Sam Marsh

Rural Metro Fire Officials Offer Tips for Home Heating Safety This Fall and Winter

Rural Metro Fire Department wants you to help put a "freeze" on fall and winter fires. Rural Metro officials said heating is the second-leading cause of home fires. If you heat with wood, oil or gas, install a carbon monoxide alarm and test it at least once a month. Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney each year. Store cooled ashes from the fire box in a tightly-covered metal container and keep it outside at least 10 feet away from your home or other combustible materials. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from any heat source like fireplaces, woodstoves, radiator or space heaters. Plug only one heat-producing device into an electrical outlet at a time. Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. Remember, working smoke alarms save lives. For more information, call Rural Metro at (541)-474-1218.

Posted on 11/6/24 5:55AM by Sam Marsh

Memorial Boat Donation Enhances Swift Water Capabilities of GP Fire & Rescue Team

A generous donation in honor of the mother of Jackson County Fire District #1's Fire Chief has enhanced the swift water capabilities of Grants Pass Fire & Rescue. Grants Pass fire officials have announced the recent donation of a boat from Ron Loynds. It was dedicated in honor of Loynd's sister Patty and serves as a legacy of first responders in the Rogue Valley community. Patty -- who was also the beloved mother of District 1 Fire Chief Mike Hammonds of Rogue River -- left a lasting impact on the community through her generosity and service before her passing. Officials sincerely thank Ron Loynds and his family, Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic and the Grants Pass Fire team for their dedication to citizens and their crucial role in achieving this success.

Posted on 11/6/24 5:52AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine County Voters Routing Money Measures & Putting Newcomers into Office

Josephine County residents voted with the conservative majority in the November General Election, soundly defeating four money measures and apparently putting several newcomers into office. According to the first unofficial count released by the Josephine County Clerk's Office at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Measures 17-119, 17-121, 17-122 and 17-123 all were defeated by wide margins. That means no taxpayer funding for Veterans Services, Rogue Community College bonds, Three Rivers School District bonds or a transient lodging tax in Cave Junction. In the race for Josephine County Commissioner Position 2, Chris Barnett was defeating Colene Martin by a 54.62% to 44.90% margin. In the race for Commissioner Position 3, Ron Smith was defeating Pat Fahey by a 55.37% to 43.81% tally. For the City of Grants Pass, Clint Scherf was beating incumbent Mayor Sara Bristol by a 54.96% to 44.76% count. For City Council Ward 1, Indra Nicholas was defeating incumbent Brian DeLaGrange by 52.08% to 47.63%. In Ward 2, Victoria Marshall was beating Jay Meredith 55.58% to 44.10%. In Ward 4, it was Kathleen Krohn leading incumbent Vanessa Ogier 45.66% to 35.99%. For the City of Cave Junction, Jesse Dugas was leading Jean Ann Miles in the race for Mayor by a 55.37% to 43.81% tally. For Cave Junction City Council Position 2, it was incumbent Tina Casey Jones leading challenger Steven Strauss by a 55.52% to 43.58% count.

Posted on 11/5/24 8:53PM by Sam Marsh

Board of Commissioners Set to Tackle Full Agenda for Public Business Session

Public hearings, administrative actions, orders and appointments fill the agenda for the Josephine County Board of Commissioners for its business session tomorrow morning. The Board will open the meeting with three public hearings designed to purge unneeded chapters from the Josephine County Code regarding property forfeiture, golf carts and septic tank sludge disposal. First readings of the ordinances were approved October 23rd. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will decide whether to approve a Sheriff's Office invoice for a police service dog. They will also consider whether to ratify American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects at the Illinois Valley Airport, Fleming Treatment Plant, Grants Pass Airport Hangars, Glencrest Village and the Fort Vannoy Irrigation District. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board will consider an order for setting new fees for services provided by several departments and setting a public hearing. The panel is also scheduled to make appointments to the Parks Advisory Board and the Law Enforcement Service District Citizens Advisory Committee. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 11/5/24 1:31PM by Sam Marsh

Passerby Saved Life of Driver Whose Vehicle Crashed off Redwood Hwy. in IV

A motorist was injured when he fell asleep at the wheel of his vehicle and crashed into a tree near the Illinois Valley Airport yesterday. On Monday around 4 p.m., the Oregon State Police, Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon Department of Transportation were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck on US Highway 199 near Airport Drive. Upon arrival, emergency units found a Dodge Avenger off the highway and completely engulfed in flames. A bystander had successfully rescued the 29-year-old male occupant from the vehicle before the fire spread. The patient was transported by AMR to a local hospital after initial treatment from a paramedic. The Oregon State Police was conducting an investigation into the incident, but state troopers said it appears the driver fell asleep at the wheel which caused the vehicle to leave the highway and collide with the tree. Emergency officials are expressing their gratitude to the individual who bravely rescued the driver from the burning vehicle. They said the rescuer's actions saved a life.

Posted on 11/5/24 11:26AM by Sam Marsh

Ashland Woman Escaped Serious Injury after Freeway Crash in Sunny Valley

An Ashland woman escaped serious injury when she wrecked her car on Interstate 5 in the Sunny Valley area late yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle rollover crash in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 73 on Monday at 5:12 p.m.. Troopers said the 20-year-old woman was driving a Ford Escort when she tried to avoid another vehicle that lost control in front of her. They said the Ford left the freeway on a sharp curve and struck the rock side-slope, which caused it to roll over and sustain heavy damage. According to OSP, the driver was not seriously hurt, but she was transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center as a precaution. Her wrecked car was towed to Grants Pass.

Posted on 11/5/24 11:24AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Unsuspecting Corrections Client on State Felony Warrant

Grants Pass Police apprehended an unsuspecting corrections client on a statewide felony warrant yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 47-year-old Jeremy Kyle McFarland at the Josephine County Community Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Monday at 1:35 p.m.. Police said an employee alerted them that McFarland was there to see his parole officer, but the officer was unavailable. The worker knew that the man was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a burglary conviction, so they stalled him until law enforcement could arrive on scene. Upon arrival, officers confirmed the warrant and placed McFarland into custody. He reportedly was unaware that he was wanted. McFarland was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 11/5/24 11:22AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested Kerby Man on Felony Warrant after Downtown CJ Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Kerby man on an outstanding warrant during a traffic stop in downtown Cave Junction early yesterday. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford F-350 pickup driven by 56-year-old Joseph Melvin Winslow near the intersection of Redwood and Caves highways on Monday at 9:37 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the pickup for multiple moving violations and learned that Winslow was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Sex Abuse. After the warrant was confirmed, Winslow was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail.

Posted on 11/5/24 11:20AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Pair on Curry County Warrants after SMS Trespass Call

Grants Pass Police arrested two people on outstanding warrants while investigating a trespassing complaint at a local middle school early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the trespassing call at South Middle School on Harbeck Road shortly after 9 a.m. Monday. Police said they were informed about a vehicle with two dogs inside that had been parked at the middle school since last Friday. They were able to find someone who was familiar with the vehicle and who provided a phone number for the occupants -- identified as 48-year-old Jamie Stanford and 35-year-old Zach Reyes. Stanford and Reyes were both found to be wanted on Curry County Sheriff's Office warrants for 2nd-Degree Theft. Both were cited to appear on the warrants at a Gold Beach courtroom on December 9th. Josephine County Animal Control was prepared to take the dogs to the Animal Shelter, but custody was returned to the two arrestees.

Posted on 11/5/24 11:19AM by Sam Marsh

No One Hurt in Collision between Pickup & School Bus on RR Hwy. in GP

No one was hurt when a vehicle collided with a school bus in southeast Grants Pass late yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers responded to the two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Rogue River Highway and Fruitdale Drive on Monday at 4:43 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation determined that a Nissan pickup driven by a 53-year-old man failed to stop when entering the highway and impacted the rear bumper of a passing school bus. The bus was driven by a 70-year-old man and it contained seven juveniles between the ages of 12 and 17. No one was injured. According to OSP, both vehicles were driven from the scene under their own power. It was unclear in the report if any citations or warnings were issued.

Posted on 11/5/24 11:17AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff's Office Reporting 2 Fatal Crashes Occurred Saturday Night in Jo County

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is reporting two fatal crashes occurred on the same night last weekend -- one near Williams and the other just southwest of Grants Pass. On Saturday at 10:35 p.m., deputies, American Medical Response and firefighters responded to a single-vehicle crash in the 15,300-block of Water Gap Road. First responders arrived on scene and confirmed the 16-year-old male driver was deceased. It appeared the young driver was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Speed and wet roads appeared to be a factor in the fatal crash. Next of kin was notified, but the name will not be released as he is a juvenile. On Saturday at 11 p.m., deputies, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and AMR responded to a single vehicle in a ditch on Redwood Avenue and Jenkins Avenue. Arriving units found the driver -- identified as 32-year-old Trevor Aron Dimick -- to be deceased. He was the only occupant in the vehicle. The initial investigation indicated the vehicle was traveling south on Jenkins, failed to stop at the stop sign, traveled across Redwood Avenue and struck a tree on the far side of the ditch. Next of kin was notified.

Posted on 11/5/24 6:11AM by Sam Marsh

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