Local News

Josephine County Law Enforcement District is a Narrow Winner in Certified Election Results
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The Josephine County Clerk's Office has certified the results of the November 7th special election and the law enforcement service district came up a narrow winner. County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels certified the election on Wednesday and the results show that the Josephine County Law Enforcement District passed by a 51% to 49% tally. The difference after all the ballots were counted was 299 votes. The majority of Josephine County property owners who participated in the election voted for Measure 17-115, which will cost them 99 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. Grants Pass voters overwhelmingly passed the renewal of the $1.79 public safety levy. The count was 78.2% to 21.8% -- a difference of 5,756 votes. Henkels said the final official turnout for the election was just over 34%. A total of 23,488 voters participated in the election out of 68,936 registered voters.
Posted on 12/2/23 6:35AM by Sam Marsh
 

Jackson County Sheriff's Office Participates in Annual Foster Kid Gift-Giving Program
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The Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Oregon Department of Human Services are participating this holiday season in "Foster the Love," a local program to provide Christmas presents for children in foster care. This year, there are five locations to pick up a gift tag and leave and unwrapped gift. They include the Jackson County Sheriff's Office at 5179 Crater Lake Highway in Central Point, Heritage Christian Fellowship in Medford, Rainy's Corner in Sams Valley, Butte Creek Baptist Church in Eagle Point and Country Roots Salon in Eagle Point. New this year is a family-friendly event at the Sheriff's Office. On Monday, from 4-6 p.m.,Santa Claus will be at the Sheriff's Office to meet with kids and take pictures. Here's how it works: grab a tag at one of the five locations, purchase a gift for that child, and return the gift to the tree in a gift bag (unwrapped) anytime the business is open or plan to bring it to the December 4th party at the Sheriff's Office. The deadline for dropping off gifts is Monday, December 11th, at noon. Thank you for helping to put a smile on the face of a local foster child!
Posted on 12/2/23 6:30AM by Sam Marsh
 

City of Grants Pass Announces Street Closures for Downtown Christmas Parade Tonight
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The City of Grants Pass has announced some downtown street closures for tonight's Christmas Parade. From 5 to 8 p.m. this evening, several streets will be closed to accommodate the annual Christmas Parade, which starts at 6 p.m.. Detours will be in place for closures on 6th Street from A to M streets. Side streets from B to M streets will be closed to through traffic between 5th and 8th streets. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and find alternate routes. Emergency vehicles will be allowed through. Both sides of 6th Street will be open for viewing the parade which ends at L Street. Chairs and blankets are permitted for parade watchers along the route. Parade announcers will be on the roof of Casablanca Restaurant at the corner of 6th and D streets, and goodies will be given out at that location. For safety reasons, the throwing of candy and other items during the parade is prohibited due to insurance limitations. Candy, flyers and business cards may be handed out by parade walkers.
Posted on 12/2/23 6:27AM by Sam Marsh
 

City of GP Announces Street Closures for Christmas Parade on Saturday Night
The City of Grants Pass has announced some downtown street closures for Saturday night's Christmas Parade. From 5 to 8 p.m. tomorrow, several streets will be closed to accommodate the annual Christmas Parade, which starts at 6 p.m.. Detours will be in place for closures on 6th Street from A to M streets. Side streets from B to M streets will be closed to through traffic between 5th and 8th streets. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and find alternate routes. Emergency vehicles will be allowed through. Both sides of 6th Street will be open for viewing the parade which ends at L Street. Chairs and blankets are permitted for parade watchers along the route. Parade announcers will be on the roof of Casablanca Restaurant at the corner of 6th and D streets, and goodies will be given out at that location. For safety reasons, the throwing of candy and other items during the parade is prohibited due to insurance limitations. Candy, flyers and business cards may be handed out by parade walkers.
Posted on 12/1/23 11:22AM by Sam Marsh
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One Person Hurt in Rollover Crash on Redwood Highway at Hayes Hill Summit
One person was injured in a motor vehicle accident on Redwood Highway near Wonder early yesterday. On Thursday at 7:52 a.m., the Oregon State Police, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle rollover crash on US Highway 199 at Hayes Hill. OSP said 36-year-old Cain Perez-Elias of Medford was driving a Volkwagen Jetta when he lost control while navigating a curve and rolled, with the car coming to rest on its side. All three occupants had self-extricated prior to the arrival of first responders. According to OSP, one passenger was transported to a local hospital with a head injury while the driver and the other passenger denied medical attention. The passengers were a 32-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man, both from Medford. Troopers said the damaged car was hauled into Grants Pass by Caveman Towing.
Posted on 12/1/23 11:07AM by Sam Marsh
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No One Hurt in Thursday Afternoon Crash on Redwood Highway at Riverbanks
No one was hurt in a second motor vehicle accident that occurred yesterday on Redwood Highway near Wilderville. On Thursday at 1:37 p.m., the Oregon State Police, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on US Highway 199 at Riverbanks Road. OSP said a Toyota 4-Runner driven by 31-year-old Bryenna McCallan was trying to turn onto the highway northbound when it struck a southbound Dodge Caravan driven by 60-year-old David Levison head-on. Rural Metro officials said arriving units found all occupants of the vehicles had self-extricated and all denied injury. A utility company was providing traffic control. Traffic was temporarily disrupted until the road was cleared. The Toyota was towed into Grants Pass, but it was unclear if the Dodge had to be towed. It was also unclear whether any citations were issued.
Posted on 12/1/23 11:05AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested 2, Cited More and Excluded Others in Park Patrol Checks
Grants Pass Police apprehended two campers who were wanted on outstanding warrants while citing and excluding a few other campers during park patrols on Thursday. During a patrol check at Fruitdale Park, officers contacted 57-year-old Donnie Wayne Snow, Jr., and discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for drug possession. He was lodged at the adult jail facility without bail. During a patrol check at Baker Park, Heather Dixon and Aria Echavarria were both cited for Misuse of Park Open Spaces and they were trespassed from the park for 30 days. During a patrol check at Riverside Park, Glenn Miller was cited for Scattering Rubbish, Andrew Urenda was cited for Misuse of Park Open Spaces and Trevillian Heartfelt was cited for Public Urination. Miller and Urenda were trespassed for 30 days. During a patrol check at Morrison Centennial Park, John Hanson was cited for Misuse of Park Open Spaces and he was given a 30-day exclusion. During another patrol check at Baker Park, officers contacted 35-year-old Ian Seiwell Hogue and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Resisting Arrest, Escape and Criminal Trespass. He was lodged in jail.
Posted on 12/1/23 11:03AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Woman Hurt in Downtown Crash Snared for Refusing to Leave Hospital
A Grants Pass woman who was hospitalized after crashing her vehicle in the downtown area this week was arrested for refusing to leave the hospital. Grants Pass Police responded to a trespassing complaint involving 68-year-old Vera Santa at Three Rivers Medical Center late Wednesday night. She had been taken to the hospital for an evaluation after a Tuesday night mishap near 7-Eleven. Police said Santa was in a room at the TRMC Emergency Department receiving medical treatment after that incident and she was discharged by hospital staff -- but she refused to vacate the property upon being asked to do so by employees. Santa was contacted by officers and continued to refuse to leave the hospital after she was given ample time to do so. She was eventually placed into custody. Vera Santa was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. Her personal belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.
Posted on 12/1/23 10:59AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Young Woman for Stealing Food Items at Supermarket
Grants Pass Police arrested a young woman for stealing food items from a local supermarket yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Thursday at 2:10 p.m.. Police said 18-year-old Alexandria Sage Bella Donna Millwood concealed food in her purse and passed all points of sale without paying. She was detained by store security who said she was uncooperative and refused to identify herself. Responding officers were able to identify the suspect as Millwood and they lodged her without bail at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of 3rd-Degree Theft.
Posted on 12/1/23 10:57AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Motorist Nabbed for DUII after Using Inhalants in Fast Food Drive-Thru
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night after he was spotted using inhalants in the drive-thru of a local fast food restaurant. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a traffic complaint at the McDonalds in the Allen Creek Shopping Center on Thursday around 9:40 p.m.. Police said 23-year-old Joshua Ryan Delacruz was observed doing "whip-its" while in the drive-thru at McDonalds and an employee called 9-1-1. Josephine County sheriff's deputies stopped the suspect, he admitted to the use of inhalants, displayed indicators of impairment and a search of his vehicle located used cans of nitrous oxide. After custody of Delacruz was transferred to Grants Pass police officers, he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw and placed in custody. Joshua Delacruz was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Inhalants. He was cited to appear in court and released, but his vehicle was impounded.
Posted on 12/1/23 10:56AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Jailed Man for Stealing Trailer and Trying to Sell It on Social Media Site
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for stealing a trailer and transmission in the Hugo area and then trying to sell the items on social media. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 44-year-old Lance Tyler Huggins, Jr., in the 700-block of Ort Lane in Merlin on Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said they received a report that a 12-foot dump trailer and transmission were stolen from a property in the 5100-block of Tunnel Loop Road last weekend. An investigation discovered that Huggins was attempting to sell those same items on Facebook Marketplace and they were located on the Ort Lane property. Lance Huggins was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, 1st-Degree Theft and the resulting Probation Violation related to past arrests for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Felony and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police, and 4th-Degree Assault. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. The stolen trailer and transmission were returned to their rightful owner who requested that Huggins and a woman identified as "Jessica Grinager" be trespassed from his property.
Posted on 12/1/23 6:45AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Collared Statewide Fugitive after Responding to New Hope Road Call
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant following a reported disturbance in the New Hope area this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a report that 35-year-old Jonathan Lee Messer threw a punch at another man at a home in the 4,000-block of New Hope Road on Wednesday night. Deputies said the victim called from a neighbor's house because he did not have a phone. The caller said he managed to dodge the punch, but he was unhappy with Messer's increasingly aggressive behavior. The suspect left the home and went to a single-wide trailer on the back of the property. While on the way to the call, deputies discovered that Messer was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation related to a conviction for a weapons offense. Upon arrival, they entered the trailer, followed him to a back room and placed him into custody without incident. Jonathan Messer was transported to Grants Pass and booked into the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrant. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 12/1/23 6:43AM by Sam Marsh
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