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http://www.omniture.com --> Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend May 27, 2006 Deputies rip Greenway hobo camps By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Jackson County sheriff's deputies rousted transients living along the Bear Creek Greenway, closing down a dozen camps and arresting one man Friday. This is the fourth Greenway sweep under Sheriff Mike Winters' tenure since a 15-year-old girl was raped at a transient camp in March 2005. "People shouldn't have to worry about walking down there and getting hit up for money or assaulted or raped," he said. Sheriff's deputies found about a dozen active camps compared to 40 last March. "It seems as though we're getting a handle on everything," said Winters. "We're gradually reducing the problem." Deputies found another 20 to 30 camps that appeared to be abandoned. They also went onto private land with the owners' permission near the Greenway north of Ashland where they found one camp. Joy Olson, executive director of the Bear Creek Greenway Foundation, said the sweeps by local law enforcement have made a difference. "I am really very encouraged," said Olson, a frequent user of the Greenway. Despite the success, she has seen various problems recently, including what she referred to as a "town" of transients under a bridge near the new sports park. "I worry about it for the little kids," she said. An effort last year to eradicate blackberry bushes growing along the path that concealed many of the camps seems to be paying off, she said. Through the city of Medford the lack of blackberry bushes has lessened the number of transient camps and litter asWinters said deputies used infrared detection devices from the air to map out all the transient camps in advance of the sweep. Deputies then used the Global Positioning System to locate the camps in patrol cars. The sweep began at 6:30 a.m. and involved 10 deputies and a helicopter. Transients encountered this time were not the same people from previous sweeps, said Winters, indicating that the former transients had moved on. Crews have been working on one of the last legs of the 18.5- mile pedestrian and bike path that will soon be an unbroken link from Central Point to Ashland. Visible from Interstate 5, the new section of the path will connect the new sports park in south Medford to Barnett Road. With a $22 million investment in the Greenway, Winters said it's important to make sure it's a safe, clean place to go. Inmates from the county Community Justice Work Center will be cleaning out the camps and related litter in the next few days. A representative from the county Department of Human Services participated in the sweep to offer assistance to the homeless people. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or at [email protected] Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy