Local News

Pacific Power is monitoring the winter storm that has arrived in the Pacific Northwest regions of Oregon, California and Washington, and the utility's crews are prepared to respond to weather-related outages. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through Wednesday afternoon. The weather forecast calls for strong winds that could result in electrical outages through early Wednesday morning. Pacific Power encourages customers to always be prepared for outages and the utility supports emergency management organizations, recommending residents have an emergency plan for up to 72 hours without essential services. There are some simple steps customers can take to prepare and be informed. They include updating your contact information so they can reach you; signing up to receive outage alerts by text, e-mail or phone; restocking your outage kit; keeping mobile devices charged so they may be used in an emergency; and tracking outages and more with their free app. Text OUT to 722797 to report your outage or STAT to check status. Call 9-1-1 and report the outage to Pacific Power at 1-(877)-508-5088. Visit "pacificpower.net/outages" for electrical service restoration estimates.

 

The Grants Pass City Council has elected new leadership for 2024, but it didn't come easy. Three attempts to break a 4-4 deadlock between Councilors Vanessa Ogier and Rick Ryker were unsuccessful, so Ogier was elected Council President and Ryker was elected Vice-President. Councilor DJ Faszer was nominated, but not elected. With Mayor Sara Bristol absent, Ogier then led Monday's bi-weekly workshop session where the main topic was once again public safety funding. During a marathon presentation followed by discussion, the Council voted 6-1 on a funding plan that includes a 1.5% general sales tax and a $12 hike to monthly utility bills. After mulling the supplemental funding options for public safety, the Council concluded that the general sales tax and utility fee was the best way to go because a food and beverage tax targets one specific industry. The general sales tax would spread the tax among all businesses -- with some exceptions -- and generate about $10 million per year, which would allow the addition of nine full-time employees in the next fiscal year -- seven of them in much-needed public safety positions. The general sales tax would be capped at 1.5%, which means it could not be increased without the consent of Grants Pass voters. The City Council plans to hold a February 15th public forum on the plan before officially adopting it at a future regular meeting, perhaps in early March.

 

Snow down low in southwest Oregon has now become a distinct possibility. The National Weather Service has added a localized Winter Weather Advisory to the existing Winter Storm Warning. The Winter Storm Warning above 2,000 feet remains in effect while the Winter Weather Advisory runs from 10 o'clock tonight through 9 a.m. Wednesday. Heavy snow and blowing snow is expected above 2,000 feet in Josephine, Jackson, eastern Douglas and eastern Curry counties. Total accumulations of up to 12 inches is expected, with up to 24 inches possible over the highest terrain. Winds could gust up to 50 miles per hour. For the Winter Weather Advisory, snow is expected with accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and possibly up to 5 inches on or near the valley floor. The most likely time for this to occur will be tonight into Wednesday evening. Snow accumulations in the valleys will be tricky and much will depend on the intensity of precipitation. Affected roadways include portions of Interstate 5 from Ashland to Rogue River and between Grants Pass and Roseburg, Hayes Hill Summit, Jacksonville Hill, and highways 62, 140, 227, 234, 238 and 46 east of Cave Junction.

 

The Mount Ashland Ski Area plans to open for the season on Thursday, weather permitting. The local ski area's 60th anniversary season will begin exactly 60 years to the day after its first-ever opening in 1964. On Monday, Mount Ashland Manager Andrew Gast reported the mountain had received 18 inches of snow in the past week, enabling crews to begin preparation work this past weekend. He said ski patrol and grooming teams are working on final preparations now and all lower mountain lifts are expected to be open by Thursday morning. On opening day, the ski area will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and plans to offer Beginner, Intermediate and Advance terrain. The forecast calls for between 9 and 18 inches of new snow over the next couple of days. Mount Ashland calls the first day of the season "Day Onesie" and guests who arrive wearing any one-piece style of clothing can win prizes. The first 60 guests in the lift lines will receive a commemorative 60th anniversary neck tube.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for violating a court order by visiting his parents' property in the Williams area over the weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 39-year-old William George Muir for the incident in the 900-block of Tetherow Road on Saturday around 10:30 a.m.. Deputies said a person from that address called 9-1-1 to report that their son "Billy" was back on the property and hiding in a shed despite a court order protecting them from him. They arrived on scene and placed him into custody. Muir was first arrested for violence against his family on July 19th of last year. He was arrested again on September 13th for Menacing and Criminal Mischief, and on October 5th and December 15th for Contempt of Court. On Friday, a neighbor reported that he stole a wedding ring from her house. William "Billy" Muir was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for old and new weapons crimes following a weekend traffic stop on Redwood Highway west of Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Ford CVC driven by 39-year-old David Scott Anderson near milepost 6 of US Highway 199 on Friday at 10:30 p.m.. Troopers said they contacted Anderson and discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. They said a search of his vehicle located a knife, which he is prohibited from having due to his status as a local felon. The knife was seized as evidence. David Anderson was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant along with a new charge of Felon in Possession of a Weapon. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for multiple crimes after he and his wife allegedly teamed up to steal merchandise from Walmart over the weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the big box retailer on NE Terry Lane on Saturday at about 9:40 a.m.. Police said 36-year-old Matthew Christopher Crandall and Autumn Crandall went to Walmart where Matthew used the mobile app to scan an item and then select a more expensive or larger item with a higher cost. They said the suspect used his cellphone for the transaction and scanning, paying $101.28 for items valued at $177.21. The crime was captured on surveillance video prior to the 9-1-1 call. Upon arrival, officers placed Matthew Crandall into custody and discovered he was open-carrying a firearm that he was prohibited from having due to a past domestic violence conviction. The gun was seized as evidence. Matthew Crandall was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Computer Crime, Carrying a Concealed Weapon and 3rd-Degree Theft. A charge of Petty Theft against his wife was referred to the District Attorney's Office because she was assisting him with selecting items at the store.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing merchandise from the Home Depot store. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a shoplifting call from the store on NE Mill Street on Saturday around 5 p.m.. Police said 33-year-old Jesse Russell Jones selected $264 worth of merchandise and passed all points of sale, intentionally depriving Home Depot of its property. He walked through the parking lot and exited near the Mill Street Car Wash where he was tracked down and placed into custody. The stolen property was recovered. Jesse Jones was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and he was being held without bail. A message about his criminal activity was left with his corrections officer.

 

A Grants Pass man was injured after he crashed his vehicle on Williams Highway near Murphy. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 7 of Highway 238 on Saturday at 7:22 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicated that 25-year-old Mikal Glenn Spriggle was driving a Toyota Prius when he lost control of the car, spun and ended up in the ditch. According to OSP, Spriggle was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of a minor injury. His damaged car was hauled into Grants Pass by Three Boys Towing.