Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a dangerous criminal offender on a local felony warrant late last week after a pursuit in the New Hope area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 30-year-old Mackenzie Duane Clinger at gunpoint on Corbin Drive near Williams Highway last Friday at 12:40 a.m.. Deputies said they were attempting to locate Clinger because he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation related to recent arrests for 2nd-Degree Kidnapping and two counts of 4th-Degree Assault. Upon spotting Clinger, deputies pursued him out Highway 238 and successfully spiked his vehicle. They attempted to block him in when he pulled into a private driveway, but he went around the patrol vehicle and continued to flee until all four tires went flat, disabling his vehicle. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center notified deputies that Clinger was considered armed and dangerous, but he was placed into custody without further incident. Clinger was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant along with new charges of Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. He was being held over the weekend on $250,000 bail.

 

Two people were hurt -- one critically -- in a weekend motor vehicle accident near Selma. The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash in the 1,000-block of Reeves Creek Road on Friday night. Arriving units found a vehicle with extensive damage after striking a tree. The two occupants had to be extricated from the wreckage with the "jaws of life." One patient was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center while the more critical patient was taken to IVFD Station #2 in Selma and transferred to a Mercy Flights helicopter that flew them to a local trauma center. Jerry's Towing hauled the heavily-damaged vehicle to Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of the wreck.

 

Two weekend crashes in the North Valley area sent several people to the hospital. On Saturday afternoon, units from Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to a crash near milepost 65 of northbound Interstate 5. Rural Metro officials said the driver experienced a medical problem and veered into the median. The occupants were transported to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Thankfully, the high-tension cable barrier prevented the vehicle from crossing into opposing southbound traffic. Also Saturday afternoon, additional Rural Metro and AMR units responded to a crash involving two vehicles near the intersection of Granite Hill and Donaldson roads. Officials described the wreck as a T-bone accident that occurred in the intersection. They said the occupants of the rolled-over vehicle were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

 

The Oregon State Police was investigating two motor vehicle accidents that occurred within hours of each other this past weekend in the Illinois Valley. On Saturday at 2 a.m., OSP, the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and the Oregon Department of Transportation were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on Redwood Highway at Wild Park Lane near Selma. Arriving units found a vehicle that had struck the guardrail and ended up on the side of the highway. Jerry's Towing removed the vehicle and hauled it to Cave Junction. There were no injuries reported. On Saturday at 5:59 a.m., OSP, IVFD and AMR responded to a single-vehicle crash on Redwood Highway at Eight Dollar Mountain Road. Arriving units found a vehicle into the trees just off the highway and there were no occupants around. The vehicle was flagged for towing.

 

Firefighters knocked down a weekend blaze at the Merlin Transfer Station. Rural Metro Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to reports of a fire burning in vegetation and a wood pile at the facility located on Merlin Landfill Road near Merlin. Rural Metro officials said arriving units found the fire was confined to the wood pile, but extensive mop-up would be necessary. Smoke was visible across the Merlin area. In a Saturday afternoon update, Rural Metro reported the fire was out and it was controlled at just 1/10th of an acre.

 

US Senator Jeff Merkley was in Medford on Friday to tour New Spirit Village, an innovative affordable homeownership development that is using high-density planning to maximize space and encourage community connections. New Spirit Village also follows a Land Trust model that helps families build equity while preserving affordability. As a former leader for a chapter of Habitat for Humanity in Oregon, Senator Merkley is a champion for seeking new ways to take on the housing and affordability crises impacting the state and the nation. Merkley has pushed for building affordable housing and introduced the "End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act" legislation that would kick Wall Street hedge funds out of the business of owning single-family homes. During the event, Merkley got an inside look at the homes in New Spirit Village and spoke with prospective homeowners -- including a family impacted by the 2020 Almeda Fire.

 

As the seasons change, Grants Pass police officers and firefighters have remained remarkably consistent with strong community protection. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 681 calls for service along with 235 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 42 arrests, 36 citations, 48 warnings and seven highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 59 traffic stops and they made 20 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 154 contacts with potential troublemakers while arresting three people, citing seven more and warning 24 others. The CRT unit also trespassed five individuals and posted 61 transient camps. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 129 calls last week including 53 for emergency medical service, eight reports of fire or smoke, 31 lift assists, 15 rescue situations, 24 assists to other agencies and four false alarms. Firefighters also performed six business inspections, led four education/prevention programs, assisted the public 31 times and properly installed two child car seats. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,287 emergency calls in addition to 779 calls for non-emergency service.

 

US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with US Representatives Andrea Salinas and Val Hoyle have announced crucial federal investments for technology to support local law enforcement. These investments include emergency response and crime prevention in Benton, Lake and Marion counties along with the City of Medford. The funding from the US Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services Technology and Equipment Program will give these communities the resources needed to acquire effective equipment, technologies and interoperable communications that assist in responding to and preventing crime. The City of Medford is receiving $880,000 to acquire a Mobile Incident Command Center which will provide a central hub for coordinating emergency response and significantly enhance regional resiliency throughout the Rogue Valley. Medford Mayor Randy Sparacino said the federal lawmakers from Oregon understand the need for such a regional asset which will enhance response to future events by providing a unified command structure, coordination of resources, radio interoperability, and a protected location for personnel and equipment.

 

Tickets are now on sale for a first-of-its-kind Halloween celebration at Mount Ashland. The local ski area is hosting "A Haunting on Mount Ashland" from October 18th through October 20th. There are two options to choose from. Early in the evening, there will be a Chairlift Trick-or-Treat which Mount Ashland officials say is ideal for families. It includes a ride up Sonnet where children will be greeted by ghostly guests with treats in hand as they walk the haunted trail in daylight. Later in the evening comes The Abyss, which is for braver thrill-seekers. It's also a lift ride, but with more sinister secrets to be revealed. Tickets for either event are $25 for anyone 13 and older and $15 for kids 12 and under. All tickets include free popcorn and a drink. Mount Ashland also promises food trucks, great drinks, "live" music and more. Tickets are available now on the Mount Ashland website at "mtashland.com."