Local News

The Oregon Department of Forestry pounced on a small weekend wildfire in the mountains between Ashland and the Upper Applegate Valley. ODF reported firefighters responded to the Anderson Butte Fire early Saturday morning and were successful at holding it to just six acres. Just after midnight, ODF received a report of a fire off Anderson Butte Road between Ashland and the small community of Buncom. Arriving units found an estimated five-acre fire burning through grass and brush on a steep slope. Crews worked quickly to line the fire with water, slowing its spread. This allowed them to reinforce the line by hand, digging down to bare dirt. Firefighters spent Saturday morning extinguishing flames and hot spots, keeping the fire out of the trees and contained to its small footprint. By noon, the fire was fully lined and 60% mopped up. The work was nearing completion by 2 p.m.. ODF officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation. They said hot temperatures continue to dry out vegetation, steadily increasing the risk of fires starting and spreading.

 

The Cave Junction City Council will tackle an interesting agenda during its monthly meeting this evening. As part of the Consent Agenda, the City Council is expected to approve a park use and amplified sound request for the Labor Day Festival at Jubilee Park. Following Public Comment, the Council will consider renewal of a collective bargaining agreement with city employees and two resolutions. The first would authorize the Mayor to approve requests for amplified sound and the second would accept a three-lot land donation from Creekwood Capital. After a staff presentation on Federal Emergency Management changes, the panel will consider an update to an ordinance on grass, weeds and noxious vegetation. Tonight's meeting starts at 7 at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters logged another busy week of activity while protecting the community. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 566 calls for service along with 233 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 49 arrests, 19 citations, 38 warnings and 12 highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 45 traffic stops in the city and they made 29 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team made contact with nine potential troublemakers while arresting four people and citing six more. The CRT unit also trespassed two individuals and performed 50 park checks. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 120 calls last week including 48 for emergency medical service, seven reports of fire or smoke, 11 lift assists, six rescue situations, 18 assists to other agencies and nine false alarms. Firefighters also performed 44 business inspections, led one education/prevention program and assisted the public three times. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,427 emergency calls last week.

 

Evergreen Federal Bank has announced a donation of $50,000 to the Oregon Center for Creative Learning (OCCL) to be used for the expansion of early childhood education programs at the Children's Museum in Grants Pass. Evergreen President Boyd Elkins said they believe this donation is vital to our community. He said the museum's expansion into Grants Pass provides much-needed resources for families living in this area. With a designation as a "childcare desert," only 26% of children living in Southern Oregon have access to early childhood education. Evergreen recognizes the need to expand resources that foster positive learning and social experiences for kids. OCCL Executive Director Sunny Spicer said the Grants Pass expansion will create a dynamic hub for families from diverse backgrounds to connect, learn and grow together.

 

A Jackson County contractor will be performing asphalt maintenance work on a portion of Crater Lake Highway during nighttime hours over the next two weeks. Starting tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., Knife River Materials will begin work north of Vilas Road near Medford to south of the Corey Road area of White City. Asphalt grinding will occur this week followed by finish paving next week. Motorist should expect temporary grooved pavement and uneven surfaces in the work area. Please use slower speeds for safety. Travelers are advised to expect minor congestion in the work zone. Driveways and side-road traffic can also expect minor delays as equipment works past them. Traffic will be narrowed to one lane in each direction during active work periods at night.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry has issued its final official update on the Board Shanty Fire near Grants Pass. ODF Southwest this morning reported containment of the 469-acre wildfire had increased to 45%, with crews continuing to make steady progress across the incident by extinguishing lingering coals and smoking debris. Last night, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office canceled all evacuation notices. Due to the progress and current status of the fire, the local Type 3 team that has been in command of the incident will transition to a smaller local Type 4 team to complete the rest of the work beginning Saturday morning. There are currently 183 personnel assigned to the Board Shanty Fire, with 115 working during the day and the remainder assigned to the night shift. Resources will continue mop-up work, building depth on the line to the point where 300 feet into the interior of the fire is free of heat or smoke. Aircraft is available if needed. A reconnaissance flight is scheduled for 2 p.m. today to search for any visible smoke and direct ground crews where needed. According to ODF, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. During the Tuesday Talk Show on KAJO Radio, Rural Metro Fire Department Operations Chief Austin Prince said the incident started on July 17th when a structure fire at the top of Board Shanty Road spread to the surrounding wildland.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man late yesterday for violating a court order by contacting a Selma woman who is legally protected from him. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 47-year-old Sean Franklin Silva for the incident in the 3,000-block of Deer Creek Road on Thursday at 5:06 p.m.. Deputies said a woman who has a valid restraining order protecting her from Silva reported receiving text messages and phone calls. The caller said the person contacting her claimed to be a friend of the suspect when it was really him. According to the report, one of the messages asked the victim if she enjoyed the fireworks last night, referring to gunfire that occurred outside her home. Another message stated: "Next time I won't be shooting at an embankment, I'll be shooting at your property and won't miss." In a third message, the suspect wrote: "If I catch you, I will gut you and kill you." A fourth message said: "Sean is going to kill himself and it's your fault for not talking to him." All of the messages were entered into evidence. Silva was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for taking her aggressions out on a man in the downtown area last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 50-year-old Sarah Elizabeth Vischer at Baker Park shortly after 3 a.m. today following the incident that occurred in the 500-block of SE 8th Street on Thursday around 7:40 p.m.. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report that he was assaulted by a female transient who punched him and pushed him before fleeing in a black four-door sedan. The caller said the altercation happened after a disagreement over the woman's dog. Based on the description provided by the victim, officers were able to identify the suspect as Vischer and they searched through the night until they located her at the city park. She told officers that she only shoved the man and did not hurt him. Vischer was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted 4th-Degree Assault. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for old and new drug crimes during a routine patrol check near the Rogue River last night. The Police Department reports officers contacted three people including 64-year-old William Ward Fleming, Jr., at the SW 5th Street overlook on Thursday around 8:45 p.m.. Police said they were conducting a routine patrol in the area of the overlook when they observed the trio past the posted hours of operation. They contacted Fleming and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. During a consent search, officers located a glass pipe on Fleming that contained burnt residue of a white crystal substance that tested positive as meth. It was seized for destruction and the suspect was placed into custody. Fleming was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.