Local News

Police Apprehended Man Wanted on Local Warrant on West Side of Grants Pass
Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a local warrant on the west side of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 25-year-old Dakota Robert Connolly near the corner of SW Foundry and Fry Street on Thursday at 1:41 a.m.. Police said they were looking for Connolly because he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. They said an anonymous tip informed officers that he was in the area. Upon contact with Connolly, he refused to identify himself. However, he was positively identified while speaking with his associates and he was placed into custody. After the warrant was confirmed, Dakota Connolly was lodged at the jail facility.
Posted on 12/15/23 10:27AM by Sam Marsh
 

Grants Pass Firefighters Logged Busy Day of Responding to Calls Around City
The Grants Pass Police Department announced it would not be releasing its daily incident log today because it was upgrading its system software, but it appears that Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was busy on Thursday. Grants Pass firefighters started their day with a medical call on SE Excalibur Drive at 1:46 a.m. and ended it with an overdose call on SE K Street at 9:43 p.m.. Firefighters and paramedics responded to a trash fire call on Union Avenue, a medical call on Forestview Drive, a lift assist on NW Sinclair Drive, an assist to the public on NW Hillcrest Drive, an overdose call on SE M Street, a medical call on NE E Street and a lift assist on Swarthout Drive all before the noon hour. In the afternoon, there were medical calls on NE Riddle Drive, NE Terry Lane, Williams Highway and Darneille Lane. They were followed by an evening fire alarm on NW Constitution Circle. No details were released by GP Fire & Rescue on any of the calls for service.
Posted on 12/15/23 10:25AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Collared Three Fugitives during Patrol Sweeps in CJ and Illinois Valley
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended three local fugitives in one afternoon this week during patrol sweeps in Cave Junction and the Illinois Valley. The Sheriff's Office reports the first incident occurred on Wednesday at 2:16 p.m. when deputies arrested 28-year-old William James Holmen in the 200-block of South Redwood Highway in Cave Junction. Holmen was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Mail Theft, Receiving Stolen Mail, 2nd-Degree Burglary, 2nd-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail. The second incident happened on Wednesday at 2:53 p.m. when deputies arrested 43-year-old Joshua David Scott in the 100-block of East O'Brien Street. Scott was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The third incident took place on Wednesday at 3:53 p.m. when deputies arrested 53-year-old Mary Jeanene Myers at a transient camp off a US Forest Service Road. Myers was wanted for Probation Violation related to a June 17th arrest for Felony Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Menacing. She was lodged in jail and cited to appear in court for Providing False Information to a Forest Service Officer.
Posted on 12/15/23 6:32AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Captured Fugitive and Cited 2 Others while Investigating Illegal Camp
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office captured a fugitive and cited two other people while investigating a reported transient camp on public land this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 31-year-old Ngitchob Heather Renguul on BLM property near Grants Pass on Wednesday around midnight. Deputies said they contacted Renguul and two men identified as 58-year-old Jack Osborn and 43-year-old Jonathan Wells at the transient camp. They said Renguul was wanted on warrants issued out of Roseburg, Medford and Jackson County. Charges contained in the warrants included Probation Violation related to Felony Burglary, failing to appear in court for Criminal Mischief and failing to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. Renguul was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail where she was being held without bail. Meanwhile, Osborn was cited for Offensive Littering and Wells was cited for Criminal Trespass. Both were ordered to appear in court for the violations and all three were trespassed from the BLM property.
Posted on 12/15/23 6:31AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested for Motorist for DUII after He Struck Pedestrian near TRMC
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving this week after he struck and injured a pedestrian near Three Rivers Medical Center. The Police Department reports officers responded to the reported mishap at the corner of Allen Creek Road and SW Ramsey Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. Police said a motorist they identified as "Zachary Knowlton" was driving a Chevrolet Suburban while impaired when he lost control of the vehicle, went up onto the shoulder and hit a pedestrian. They said he showed signs of impairment at the scene and performed poorly in field sobriety testing. According to the report, the unidentified pedestrian was transported by ambulance to the nearby hospital with visible injuries. Knowlton was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and his vehicle was impounded.
Posted on 12/15/23 6:19AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Woman for Trespassing at 7-Eleven Twice within 30 Minutes
Grants Pass Police picked up a "frequent flyer" who trespassed at a downtown convenience store twice within 30 minutes early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 43-year-old Diana Marie Reynolds for the twin incidents at 7-Eleven on SW 6th Street on Thursday at 3:18 a.m.. Police said they found Reynolds at the store after she had been trespassed from the business a half-hour earlier when she destroyed some property. The manager did not want to pursue charges after the first incident and she left at the request of law enforcement. The worker was told to call back if she returned -- and she did. Diana Reynolds was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. Jail records show Reynolds has been arrested seven times since June 15th for Mail Theft, Theft, Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass.
Posted on 12/15/23 6:17AM by Sam Marsh
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GPPD Says December is National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month
The Grants Pass Police Department has announced that December is "National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month." Each December, people go out for fun including parties and drinks with family and friends. But law enforcement asks you to stop and think about being responsible. Since the holiday season has a higher accident rate than other times of the year, police say it is important to echo the message of being in a proper and legal state of mind when getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. According to the National Safety Council, over 40,000 people died in alcohol- or drug-related traffic accidents last year. This year, GPPD says to stay safe and encourage others to do the same during the holidays.
Posted on 12/15/23 6:15AM by Sam Marsh
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Rogue Community College Board Expands Footprint of Table Rock Campus in White City
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The Rogue Community College Board of Education has approved the purchase of land adjacent to the school's Table Rock Campus. The addition of nearly 10 acres will grow RCC's footprint in White City by more than 50%. RCC President Randy Weber said the college remains rooted in Grants Pass and committed to its Medford campus, but the opportunity to expand facilities in White City allows the school to imagine the campus in ways beyond prior conversations. Weber said the purchase allows RCC to plan for Career and Technical Education growth more effectively and to identify ways the school can offer better student supports at its Table Rock Campus. RCC was able to secure the opportunity for future growth in Josephine County in November when the Grants Pass City Council voted to annex college property into the city. Without this action, RCC was capped at 3,000 more square feet at the Redwood Campus. As a result of the annexation, that restriction no longer applies. For RCC's Riverside Campus in Medford, the college's leadership is exploring how to better leverage its Student Success Center. Recent considerations include improvements, expansion or rebuilding. Environmental assessments are underway to better inform this decision.
Posted on 12/15/23 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Firefighters and Other Agencies Participating in Annual Structure Fire Drill
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Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and other local agencies have been participating in the annual multi-agency structure fire drill this week at Rogue Community College. This intensive training exercise started Wednesday and continues today on the Redwood Campus of RCC. The training provides a valuable opportunity for local firefighters to practice critical firefighting skills in a controlled environment, using simulated smoke and fire in a realistic scenario. Firefighters have been practicing search and rescue techniques in a smoke-filled structure, working together to extinguish a simulated fire using various hose lines and nozzles, and improving incident command strategy and tactics. The goal of the exercise is to build teamwork and communication with firefighters from other agencies including Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Dispatch Center. Officials said the training is essential for ensuring the safety of local firefighters and the community they serve. By working together and honing their skills, they can be confident in their ability to respond to any emergency situation.
Posted on 12/15/23 6:11AM by Sam Marsh
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City of Grants Pass Invites Residents to Enter 2023 Water Quality Report Photo Contest
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The City of Grants Pass is inviting residents to enter the 2023 Water Quality Report photo contest. Winning photos will be featured in the 2023 Grants Pass Water Quality Report. The first place winner will receive $200 and the second place winner will receive $100. The deadline to enter the contest is 5 p.m. on Friday, December 22nd. There are three categories for the contest including K-12 students, Amateurs and Professionals. Participants should submit an original photo that demonstrates the theme of "Go with the Flow." Photos must be submitted in a digital format suitable for simple reproduction. The agreement form must accompany each entry. Entries will be judged based on creativity, originality and theme relevance. Photos must be taken in Southern Oregon in Josephine, Jackson, Klamath and Curry counties. All entries become the property of the City of Grants Pass and the judges' decision is final. For more information, visit "grantspassoregon.gov/1434/Photo-Contest-Water-Quality-Report."
Posted on 12/15/23 6:10AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Collared Three Fugitives during Patrol Sweeps in CJ & Illinois Valley
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended three local fugitives yesterday during patrol sweeps in Cave Junction and the Illinois Valley. The Sheriff's Office reports the first incident occurred on Wednesday at 2:16 p.m. when deputies arrested 28-year-old William James Holmen in the 200-block of South Redwood Highway in Cave Junction. Holmen was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Mail Theft, Receiving Stolen Mail, 2nd-Degree Burglary, 2nd-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail. The second incident happened on Wednesday at 2:53 p.m. when deputies arrested 43-year-old Joshua David Scott in the 100-block of East O'Brien Street. Scott was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The third incident took place on Wednesday at 3:53 p.m. when deputies arrested 53-year-old Mary Jeanene Myers at a transient camp off a US Forest Service Road. Myers was wanted for Probation Violation related to a June 17th arrest for Felony Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Menacing. She was lodged in jail and cited to appear in court for Providing False Information to a Forest Service Officer.
Posted on 12/14/23 11:23AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Corrections Client on Felony Warrant for Probation Violation
Grants Pass Police jailed a corrections client on an outstanding felony warrant yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 40-year-old Zacharey Michael Costa at the Josephine County Community Corrections office on NW 4th Street on Wednesday at 2:47 p.m.. Police said Costa's corrections officer contacted them and reported that his client was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for 3rd-Degree Robbery and 3rd-Degree Theft. According to the report, the suspect was unaware he was about to be arrested. Zacharey Costa was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. His bail was set at $25,000.
Posted on 12/14/23 11:22AM by Sam Marsh
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