Local News

Oregon DMV Announces Cave Junction Office to Close Permanently on December 22nd
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The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles has announced the Cave Junction DMV office will close permanently later this month. The last day the office will serve customers is Friday, December 22nd. The Cave Junction DMV -- located at 103 South Kerby Avenue -- is a one-person office that has served the Illinois Valley community since January 1982. The lone employee is set to retire by the end of the year. Beginning December 26th, Cave Junction customers may go 30 miles away to the Grants Pass DMV office located at 162 NE Beacon Drive, Suite 127, for in-person services. All DMV offices across the state will be closed on Christmas Day. Hours at the Grants Pass DMV are Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. DMV's decision to close the Cave Junction office and refer customers to Grants Pass was made by balancing multiple factors including an expiring office lease, building and technology constraints, and a desire to provide consistent customer service to the region. DMV officials said Cave Junction customers should consider conducting their business online at "DMV2U.Oregon.gov."
Posted on 12/5/23 6:13AM by Sam Marsh
 

Actor's Southern Oregon Residence along Rogue River Heading to Auction Block
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Actor Patrick Duffy's longtime Southern Oregon residence along the Rogue River, currently for sale at $10,995,000, is heading to the auction block, with no minimum starting bid. Potential buyers can make any offer to Sotheby's Concierge Auctions from December 7th-14th for the 329-acre Duffy Ranch. Although there is no pre-set reserve or minimum bid for the ranch at 436 Staley Road outside of Eagle Point, starting bids are expected to be between $3 million and $5 million, said Charlie Engel of Concierge Auctions, which specializes in marketing luxury real estate worldwide. The auction house is partnering with Duffy's listing broker, Alan DeVries of Cascade Hasson Sotheby's International Realty.
The Oregonian reports a webcast at ConciergeAuctions.com of the live auction at Sotheby's Auction House in New York is scheduled for December 14th. Duffy has the right to cancel the auction on Dec. 6, before bidding opens based on the size and strength of the field of bidders we have put together up to that date.
Posted on 12/5/23 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
 

Investigators Looking into Cause of Fire that Damaged Home on SE Lela Lane
Investigators were looking into the cause of a weekend fire that damaged a home near a city park in southeast Grants Pass. On Saturday at 11:32 p.m., Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, Grants Pass Police, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the reported structure fire on SE Lela Lane near Portola Park. Emergency units arrived on scene to find a large two-story home with a working fire on the second floor and smoke showing. A line was pulled and a transitional attack with the exterior spraying of water was performed until additional resources arrived to assist. Engines arrived and assisted in extinguishing the flames, a search of the home, ventilation and salvage operations. All Grants Pass engines from the Parkway, Hillcrest and Redwood stations were committed to the scene for approximately two hours, during which time Rural Metro engines covered the city and an "All Call" for off-duty personnel was made. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Grants Pass fire officials would like to remind the community about maintaining working smoke alarms and having an escape plan from your house.
Posted on 12/4/23 10:31AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Apprehended Fugitive in Weekend Traffic Stop on Redwood Highway
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a local fugitive following a weekend traffic stop on Redwood Highway near the Applegate River. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a Kia sedan driven by 48-year-old Jessica Kelley on US Highway 199 at Riverbanks Road around 9:45 p.m. Friday. Deputies said they stopped Kelley for a traffic violation and discovered that she was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis, Reckless Driving and Resisting Arrest. Jessica Kelley was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant.
Posted on 12/4/23 10:29AM by Sam Marsh
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One Person Injured When They Crashed Vehicle over Embankment West of GP
One person was injured when they crashed their vehicle over an embankment in the Fort Vannoy area over the weekend. Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the single-vehicle rollover wreck in the 3300-block of Lower River Road on Saturday at 9:42 p.m.. Rural Metro officials said arriving units found a vehicle that had overturned and landed approximately 20 feet over an embankment. They said one person was transported to the hospital with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. The Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of the crash. A short time later, another rollover crash was reported to the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center near the intersection of Redwood Highway and Neill Road. Dispatchers said a caller thought they heard a crash and stated that they saw flames and smoke. Additional units from Rural Metro and AMR rushed to the scene and did not find a crash. Emergency crews found an open burn instead. It was unclear if any citations were issued for burning after dark.
Posted on 12/4/23 10:28AM by Sam Marsh
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ODF Southwest Reports Prescribed Burning Currently Underway in the Region
With an abundance of rain in the forecast this week, a lot of projects involving prescribed burning are currently underway in southwest Oregon. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports smoke and flames may be visible as this work continues and all prescribed fires are under control. According to ODF, prescribed fire is done when weather conditions don’t support rapid fire growth, typically from late fall through early spring. Different than residential debris burns, this large scale or industrial work helps to reduce fuels during a safer time of year. It requires the landowner in charge of the burn to control, mop up and patrol any prescribed fire used as a tool. If a fire escapes, the responsible party can face paying up to $300,000 in fire suppression costs.
Posted on 12/4/23 10:26AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Teenager in Custody for Weekend Shooting at Buffalo Wild Wings in Medford
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The Medford Police Department has arrested a Grants Pass teenager for attempted murder and other crimes following an investigation into a weekend shooting at a local restaurant that critically injured another person. On Friday at 11:25 p.m., an MPD officer was on routine patrol near the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings on Delta Waters Road when multiple gunshots were heard coming from the front of the restaurant. According to MPD, the officer found a victim lying on the ground next to the front door and immediately began providing medical aid. Several individuals were seen running to a vehicle and then fleeing toward Highway 62. A description of the suspect vehicle was broadcast to other officers who located and stopped it on Crater Lake Highway near Bullock Road. The vehicle occupants, including the suspected shooter -- 18-year-old Joseph Larry Lopez of Grants Pass -- were detained and interviewed. Joseph Lopez was placed into custody and lodged at the Jackson County Jail for felony charges of Attempted Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and 1st-Degree Assault. He was being held without bail. Police believe that a confrontation between two groups of people precipitated the shooting. As of Saturday, the unidentified victim was in critical condition and undergoing surgery. A Sunday night update stated the victim remains in very serious condition.
Posted on 12/4/23 6:49AM by Sam Marsh
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Medford Police Detectives Investigate Double-Homicide at Apartment Complex
The Medford Police Department is investigating a double-homicide that occurred early yesterday at a local apartment complex. On Sunday at about 5:40 a.m., MPD officers responded to a reported disturbance with shots fired at the Charles Point apartment complex on Highgate Street in south Medford. Upon arrival, officers located two individuals with gunshot wounds in the parking lot near an apartment. Both subjects were transported to a local hospital where one of them was pronounced deceased and the other succumbed to their injuries later in the day. According to MPD, names or any other specifics of the victims will not be released at this time. Officials confirmed the case is not related to the shooting incident that occurred late Friday night at Buffalo Wild Wings. Medford police detectives and detectives from assisting agencies continue to work the case to determine the circumstances surrounding the disturbance that led to the deaths of the victims. Officials said there is no further information at this time and additional details will be released as they become available.
Posted on 12/4/23 6:48AM by Sam Marsh
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Weekend Fight at South Grants Pass Bar Resulted in Arrests of Husband & Wife
A weekend fight at a south Grants Pass bar resulted in the arrests of a man and his wife. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers were alerted to a disturbance at the 238 Bar on Williams Highway on Friday around 10:20 p.m.. Police said they responded to reports of a large physical altercation at the bar and they were advised that subjects were starting to disperse after the fight spilled out of the bar and into the parking lot. An investigation determined that 37-year-old Dustin Quentin Simas was involved in a confrontation with another group inside the bar. He claimed he was hit when he came out of the restroom and witnesses said he was wildly swinging at anyone he could find in the business. Meanwhile, his wife -- 37-year-old Rebecca Christine Simas -- started engaging in threatening behavior toward another woman and started yelling at individuals in the bar. The victim advised Simas struck her with a closed fist and another patron had video of the woman grabbing his phone while he was recording. Dustin Simas and Rebecca Simas were placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct while she was jailed for Physical Harassment and Disorderly Conduct. Both were being held without bail.
Posted on 12/4/23 6:47AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Felon for Graffiti Tagging & Possession of Brass Knuckles
Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for two crimes after he vandalized a business in the downtown area and was found to be in possession of brass knuckles. According to the Police Department 35-year-old Anthony John Gambale, IV, was arrested for the incident at Ace Cash Express in the 400-block of SE 7th Street on Friday at about 7:30 p.m.. Police said Gambale was observed by a citizen spray-painting graffiti on the south wall of the business. He was located one block away and a can of green spray paint was recovered from his clothing. He admitted to tagging the building and a consent search found him to be in possession of brass knuckles. As a confirmed convicted felon, Gambale was prohibited from having the weapon. Anthony Gambale was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 12/4/23 6:46AM by Sam Marsh
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Three People Hurt and One Arrested for DUII after Weekend Crash near RCC
Three people were hospitalized and one of them was arrested for impaired driving after a weekend crash near Rogue Community College. On Friday at 7:20 p.m., the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision in the 3500-block of Demaray Drive. Deputies said an investigation determined that 25-year-old Matthew Trevino was driving a Ford Focus with his father as a passenger when he turned right in front of a Toyota Corolla driven by a woman identified only as "Cover." Trevino, his father and Cover had to be extricated from their wrecked vehicles and all were taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of various injuries. Trevino reportedly displayed signs of impairment at the crash scene. He admitted to drinking a beer and taking two shots of hard alcohol before driving. His father said he did not remember the crash and did not wish to pursue charges against his son. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were towed away. Matthew Trevino was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Reckless Driving and 4th-Degree Assault. He was cited to appear in court and released to the care of hospital staff.
Posted on 12/4/23 6:44AM by Sam Marsh
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GP City Council to Focus on Survey & Caveman Pool in Bi-Weekly Workshop
The Grants Pass City Council has two main topics on its agenda for today's bi-weekly workshop session. The City Council will open the workshop with a staff update on the results of an Organizational Engagement Survey by Star360. The municipal policy panel will then engage in further discussion surrounding the future of Caveman Pool. The session will conclude with a review of the agenda for Wednesday night's regular meeting. Today's workshop begins at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.
Posted on 12/4/23 6:31AM by Sam Marsh
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