Local News

Board Approves OHA Grant Agreement for GAP Services from Options for SO
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning approved a grant agreement with Options for Southern Oregon for the management of mental health services. The Board voted 2-0 to approve a renewal of the grant that is administered by the Oregon Health Authority. Commissioner Dan DeYoung was absent. Options Executive Director Carla McCafferty testified that the 18-month contract renewal runs until June 30, 2025, unless the agreement is terminated or amended. She said the funding is for GAP services for uninsured or underinsured residents. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Commissioners appointed Kimberly Glover to a four-year term on the Josephine Housing & Community Development Council, Dustin Abbott to a four-year term on the Bikeways & Walkways Committee and Dave Mathews to a four-year term on the Illinois Valley Airport Advisory Board. They also reappointed Gary Buck to a four-year term on the IV Airport Advisory Board. In other business, the Board approved plat maps for Oregon Trail Estates and Phase 1 of the Silverbrook development. The maps are available for public viewing in the Board of Commissioners Office at the Josephine County Courthouse.
Posted on 3/27/24 10:18AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Arrested IV Man for Stealing Vehicle with Additional Charges Pending
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley man for stealing a vehicle yesterday and additional charges are pending further investigation. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 40-year-old male suspect at gunpoint on Tuesday at 5:58 p.m. following a high-risk traffic stop on Rockydale Road near Forest Park Road. Deputies said the incident started a few hours earlier when a Cave Junction man reported his vehicle was stolen from a property on East Hanby Road. The vehicle was seen by witnesses a short time later at CJ Coffee, but the suspect had driven away before law enforcement arrived on scene. The Oregon State Police assisted. About an hour later, the stolen vehicle was spotted at a property in the 27,500-block of Redwood Highway. When the suspect was stopped, there was a woman and a juvenile also inside the vehicle. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. The woman was detained and released. According to the report, two firearms, $460 in cash, a possible burglary tool and an unknown controlled substance were located inside the stolen vehicle, which was towed to Cave Junction. The items were seized as evidence and for investigation.
Posted on 3/27/24 10:17AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Man for Threatening Motorists with Knife near Tussing Park
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for allegedly threatening motorists with a knife near Tussing Park yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 36-year-old male subject near the corner of West Park Street and Ringuette Street on Tuesday at 11:06 a.m.. Police said a Josephine County sheriff's deputy was flagged down by a couple who reported the man had just charged their vehicle with a knife. They said he was located a short time later walking in the middle of the street and "flailing wildly." Officers disarmed the man and placed him into custody. No one was hurt. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and the resulting Parole Violation stemming from recent convictions for Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Mischief. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. His property was logged into evidence for safekeeping.
Posted on 3/27/24 10:15AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Incarcerated Young Motorcyclists for Speeding Away from Traffic Stop
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two young motorcyclists last night for speeding away from deputies just north of Grants Pass. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies attempted to stop one of the motorcycle riders for a traffic violation on Highland Avenue on Tuesday around 7:15 p.m.. Deputies said the motorcyclists refused to yield, turned onto Donaldson Road and sped away. They pursued the suspects until one of them eventually pulled over at Surrey Drive. He was placed into custody at gunpoint while the other motorcyclist turned around and was also placed into custody. The 19- and 18-year-old suspects were lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. Both motorcycles were towed to the impound yard. At least one of them had no license plates.
Posted on 3/27/24 10:14AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Snared Woman on Felony Warrant after Foothill Boulevard Encounter
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman on a local felony warrant last night after a reported incident on Foothill Boulevard east of Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a citizen complaint on Foothill near Averill Drive on Tuesday at 6:18 p.m.. Deputies said a motorist heading toward Rogue River had to swerve to miss the woman whom the caller said "did not look like she was all there." The woman was dressed in all black with pink hair while walking in the middle of the roadway. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that the female subject was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. She reportedly became hostile while being placed into custody. The 48-year-old suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and she was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 3/27/24 10:12AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Nabbed Man for Drug Possession after Incident at North Dollar Tree
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for drug possession early yesterday following a report of suspicious activity at the north Dollar Tree. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the store in the 1200-block of NW 6th Street on Tuesday shortly after 9 a.m.. Police said the store manager reported a male subject was squatting down in the candy aisle with needles and other drug paraphernalia scattered around him. The caller said the man kept "nodding off" and falling into the candy display. Due to his high level of intoxication, the 31-year-old man had no knowledge that officers were on scene. Officers said the suspect was in possession of a Josephine Community Library computer that had not been checked out to him and multiple tools that were labeled with someone else's name. The suspect told police he found the computer on 5th Street. It was returned to the library, which was planning to check to see whether it had been stolen from the person who checked it out. The possible theft of tools was being investigated. The suspect was cited to appear in court for the narcotics violation and released. He was also trespassed from the Dollar Tree.
Posted on 3/27/24 10:11AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Evicted 3 Campers for Ordinance Violations in Park Patrol Checks
Grants Pass Police evicted three campers from city parks for ordinance violations on Tuesday. At Lawnridge Park, a man was cited for Misuse of Park Open Spaces and Illegal Camping after he failed to remove his previously posted campsite. He was issued a 30-day exclusion. At Baker Park, a woman was cited for Misuse of Park Open Spaces and Illegal Camping after she failed to remove her previously posted campsite. She was trespassed from the park for 30 days. After being warned numerous times, a man's inoperable vehicle was towed from the park. Its fuel tank was missing. At Morrison Centennial Park, a man was cited for Misuse of Park Open Space and Illegal Camping after he failed to remove his previously posted campsite. He was issued a 30-day exclusion. An abandoned inoperable vehicle was towed away.
Posted on 3/27/24 10:08AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Man for Trespassing at 7-Eleven and then Fighting with Officers
Grants Pass Police jailed a man early yesterday for trespassing at a downtown convenience store and then scuffling with responding law enforcement, injuring a female officer. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 30-year-old man at the 7-Eleven store on SW 6th Street on Tuesday at 12:12 a.m.. Police said a store worker called 9-1-1 to report a male subject standing outside the door and harassing customers. The caller said the man kept coming in and out of the store, and they believed he was under the influence of drugs. The man refused to leave the business when asked to do so. Responding officers took the uncooperative suspect to the ground and a female officer requested an ambulance for a possible broken ankle. The man continued to struggle with law enforcement while uttering nonsensical statements. He was eventually subdued after a Taser was deployed on him two times. According to the report, the man also intentionally banged his head on the cage in the patrol vehicle. He was not seriously hurt. The suspect was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest and Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 3/27/24 5:39AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Fugitive while Recovering Stolen Vehicle at South Y Car Wash
Grants Pass Police apprehended a local fugitive while recovering a stolen vehicle at a south-city car wash this week. According to the Police Department, officers arrested a 30-year-old man at the South Y Car Wash off Redwood Highway late Monday night. Police were patrolling the South Y area when they observed a parked vehicle in the car wash. The vehicle with Washington plates had its hood open and appeared to be unoccupied. Upon further inspection, a male subject sat up in the driver seat of the vehicle which had been reported stolen by the Seattle Police Department. Further investigation revealed that the man was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. The suspect told police the stolen vehicle already had a punched-out ignition and he was given the vehicle by a random person at a railroad station. The suspect was placed into custody on the warrant plus charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Seattle PD was notified about the recovered vehicle, which was towed to impound.
Posted on 3/27/24 5:31AM by Sam Marsh
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Health Insurance Companies Warning Public about Unsolicited Medicare Calls
Oregon health insurance companies are warning residents about a recent wave of unsolicited calls about Medicare plans. If you are receiving phone calls about Medicare plans, don't answer. Unsolicited calls are against federal regulations. Please do not give out any personal information over the phone. Reach out to a local agent to review your options. To get information on your Medicare options, visit "medicare.gov," call 1-(800)-MEDICARE or contact your local State Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). To file a grievance or complaint about Medicare marketing efforts targeting you, call 1-(800)-MEDICARE 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Posted on 3/27/24 5:29AM by Sam Marsh
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Jackson County Fire District #1 Reminds Residents to Burn Yard Debris Safely
Jackson County Fire District #1 would like to remind everyone that if they plan to burn yard debris to do it safely. Even though we are not yet in fire season, there is still a risk for a burn pile to get out of control and spread to the wildland. This risk increases as we experience warmer and drier days. If you live within Jackson County Fire District #1 in the Rogue River/Gold Hill area and plan to burn, you must first obtain a burn permit. This can be done in person at 5474 North River Road in Gold Hill or online at "rogueriverfd.com." The burn permits have rules, regulations and instructions to help everyone burn safely.
Posted on 3/27/24 5:28AM by Sam Marsh
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BCC to Consider Grant Agreement, Resolutions & Plat Maps at Weekly Session
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will consider a grant agreement, four resolutions and two plat maps during its weekly business session this morning. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider an intergovernmental pact through the Oregon Health Authority between Josephine County and Options for Southern Oregon. Services provided by Options would be paid for by the state. There are four resolutions in the Consent Calendar. They are appointments or reappointments to the Josephine Housing & Community Development Council, Illinois Valley Airport Advisory Board and Bikeways & Walkways Committee. Also on the Consent Calendar are plat maps for Oregon Trail Estates and Phase 1 of Silverbrook. Requests and Comments from Citizens allows participants to address the Board for up to three minutes on just about any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.
Posted on 3/27/24 5:27AM by Sam Marsh
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