Rogue River Press

08/06/2025

𝙃𝙄𝙂𝙃 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀 𝘿𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙍 𝙍𝙀𝙈𝘼𝙄𝙉𝙎 𝙄𝙉 𝙀𝙁𝙁𝙀𝘾𝙏: Despite a slight "cooldown" into the low 90s and high 80s this week, high fire danger remains in effect across ODF-protected land in Jackson and Josephine counties. While the break from intense heat is welcome, fire risk remains heightened and regulations are still in effect, including no debris burning of any kind; burn piles or barrels that are illegally lit during cool periods in the summer often reignite and start fires in hot, windy conditions, which re-enter the forecast as early as this weekend.

The graphic below, provided by the US National Weather Service Medford Office, is showing the potential for triple digit temperatures starting on Saturday, and only increasing in intensity into early next week. Dry vegetation, in combination with this heat, naturally increases fire potential. All that it takes to start a wildfire is a spark, and the activities regulated by ODF during fire season are the things that most often create that spark to start a human-caused fire. You can help prevent wildfires from starting by following all current regulations during high fire danger: https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/

08/06/2025

The Rogue River Press' August 6th issue should be in print soon! We'll be on the road, heading to Medford, soon to pick it up.

We aren't anticipating any delays or changes to our normal schedule. We're crossing our fingers, toes, and nose hairs that it all works out like normal. If so, we'll have the new issue available to purchase from our office by noon and from all valley newsstand locations by mid-afternoon. Each copy still sells for only 50 cents.

Our annual subscription rate is very reasonable. Give us a call today to find out how easy it is to get started!

We're in for triple digit temps beginning this weekend. Stay cool, drink water, and remember that the air temp in vehicles and on surfaces (like concrete, asphalt, and sand) is exponentially higher than that of the air temps. Protect your furry family members' paws and never leave them in a vehicle.

Have a wonderful day!

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08/04/2025

🛠️ Check Your Address Sign Today
Can first responders find your home in an emergency?

Now’s the time to double-check:
🔦 Test visibility at night
🪚 Trim trees or brush that may block your sign
📏 Make sure your numbers are big and bold

And remember—FREE reflective address signs are still available at the fire station!

📍 8677 E Evans Creek Rd, Rogue River
Let’s keep our community safe and easy to find.

08/01/2025

Another SCAM Re-Emerging on Grants Pass Area Telephones

If you receive a telephone call from someone claiming to be the Grants Pass Police Department or any other law enforcement agency, demanding payment over the internet or telephone, please hang up immediately. We do not process payments in this manner and will not call you to collect money for fines, warrants, the policeman’s ball, or anything.

Today, another elaborate scam is hitting our community where the caller claims to be Sergeant Moore or Lieutenant Lee and that you need to immediately pay off fines, using bitcoin, or face being arrested. The caller then sends a QR code for you to use to pay the money. Please do not fall for this scam. If you get a similar call and are concerned it might be an officer, hang up and call the non-emergency number for the department. In Grants Pass, our non-emergency line is 541-450-6260. DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER THE CALLER GIVES YOU! They will spoof our local area code, making it appear to be a local call when it is not. These scams usually originate from outside the USA.

Unfortunately, a member of our community fell victim to this scam earlier today and lost $3,500 that she will never be able to recover. Please spread the word, especially to those who are over-trusting or perhaps afraid of law enforcement, and let them know how to avoid this scam.
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07/30/2025

We're short a man today, but that shouldn't affect our normal timeline too much.

We'll begin our journey to the printer's warehouse in Medford in less than an hour. We're hoping that there aren't any printing delays and the new issue will be ready or very near ready by the time we arrive.

Assuming that our assumptions of timing are correct, we should have the new issue available to sell at our office by noon and it should be selling from all newsstand locations by mid- to late-afternoon. Each copy sells for just 50 cents.

If you're tired of visiting a newsstand location to purchase the Rogue River Press, opt in for home delivery with a subscription. Each week's copy is delivered by U.S. Mail. Our annual rates are REALLY reasonable and we can start delivery with the next available issue.

Have a great day and stay cool. We're forecasted to reach the mid 90's for most of the remainder of the week.

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07/25/2025

07/24/2025

Does your property have adequate defensible space in case of a wildfire?

Jackson County Fire District #1 will come to your house and assess the defensible space around any structures and give you recommendations on what can be improved to better protect you and your property from wildfires. Call 541-582-4411 to schedule yours today!

07/24/2025

On 07/24/2025 round 12:30AM, Jackson County Fire District #1 was dispatched for a report of a confirmed structure fire in the 5600 block of Foothill BLVD. Crews arrived on scene to find the front porch of the residence to be charred with smoke in the attic. The residents used a garden hose to control the fire when they became aware of it. When the crew arrived on scene they found that the fire on the porch had been extinguished, but there was smoke coming from the attic. Crews made access into the attic space and searched the area using a thermal imaging camera, or TIC, to check for any sources of heat. No heat sources were found and it was determined that the smoke the crew saw when they arrived on scene was residual smoke from the fire. Crews overhauled the area to ensure no hot spots remained. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

07/24/2025

𝘽𝙊𝘼𝙍𝘿 𝙎𝙃𝘼𝙉𝙏𝙔 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀 𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀: Containment grows to 37% across Board Shanty Fire

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (July 24, 2025) – The 469-acre Board Shanty Fire, south of Grants Pass, continues to be mopped up by firefighters around the clock. Resources on both Wednesday’s day and overnight shifts pushed forward on progress, bringing containment up to 37% by Thursday morning.

Today, firefighters will continue this work, with 204 personnel assigned to Thursday’s day shift, including eight 20-person crews, two engines, five water tenders, a set of fallers and various overhead. Resources will spend the day searching for hotspots, or areas with remaining heat or embers that could flare up again in hot conditions and reignite the fire. By methodically extinguishing these areas, the overall line built around the fire is strengthened and containment increases. In most areas, the fire has been mopped up 200 feet from the line into the interior of the fire; these areas will continue to be checked, and further progress into the fire continues to be a goal. Tonight, 105 personnel will be assigned to the fire to continue mopping up. This includes four 20-person crews, two engines, two water tenders and overhead.

Aircraft is available today if needed, however the majority of the work remaining must be done by firefighters on the ground. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area to create a safe airspace for fire-related aircraft when needed. As a reminder, flying drones over or near a fire is illegal and incredibly dangerous to aircraft working the fire and the firefighters on the ground below. All drone use will be reported to law enforcement.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Josephine County Emergency Management have issued a Level 1 – Be Ready evacuation notice for Zones JCU-436, JCU-437 and JCU-448-A. For the latest updates on evacuations, visit: https://protect.genasys.com

Help prevent new human-caused fires from sparking by following all regulations currently in place:

• ODF Southwest Oregon: https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/

• BLM Medford District: https://www.blm.gov/orwafire

07/23/2025

Another week is in print. We'll begin our journey to the printer's warehouse in about 45 minutes to pick up the July 23rd issue.

Barring any unforeseen delays, we'll have the new issue in-house by noon and it'll be available to purchase from all valley newsstand locations by mid-afternoon.

Save yourself the trip to a newsstand location by subscribing. Our annual rates are AWESOME and your paper will be delivered each week in your mail. We can start delivery with the next available issue. Give us a call to find out more.

Have a wonderful day. Stay cool and hydrated!

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