Local News

The Oregon State Police jailed a man for a total of eight criminal and warrant violations following a traffic stop in Josephine County early yesterday. Josephine County Jail records show OSP booked 35-year-old Danylo Moskalyuk into jail on Friday at 12:15 a.m.. The location of the traffic stop was unknown because OSP is not publishing a daily incident log until Monday due to the holiday weekend. Moskalyuk was lodged on charges including Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Resisting Arrest, Supplying Contraband, Furnishing False Information to Police, Driving While Suspended, Parole Violation and an out-of-county warrant. Danylo Moskalyuk was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a man on Thanksgiving for stealing a vehicle. The Grants Pass office of OSP is not publishing its daily logs due to the holiday, but Josephine County Jail records show troopers booked 28-year-old Cameron ML Sullivan on Thursday at 5:45 p.m.. There was no information available on the circumstances of the arrest including a location. Cameron Sullivan was lodged in jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Attempt to Commit a Crime -- all felony-level charges. He was being held without bail. More information will become available on Monday when OSP releases its logs from the long holiday weekend.

 

While most people were celebrating Thanksgiving with their family and friends, emergency first responders remained on call throughout the day. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue personnel had a busy day Thursday while responding to at least 12 calls. It all started at 1:37 a.m. when firefighters responded to assist with a violent crime that occurred in the 800-block of NE 8th Street followed by an unknown medical problem in the 1500-block of SW Yucca Drive at 2:15 a.m.. Grants Pass and Rural Metro firefighters responded to a recreational vehicle fire in the 300-block of Cheney Creek Road near Wilderville at 8:31 a.m. followed by a stroke call on NE Evans Street at 9:05, a fire alarm on NW Lawnridge Avenue at 10:44 and a commercial fire alarm on NW Anique Lane at 1:53 p.m.. An overdose call came in from Baker Park at 2:03 p.m. and firefighters responded to a disturbance at NE 7th and B streets at 2:54, a fall on Idle Court at 2:58 and a breathing problem on Beechwood Drive at 3:39. A 7:55 p.m. lift assist on Medart Lane was followed by another breathing problem call on Parkdale Drive at 9:14.

 

If you are in the giving spirit this holiday season, the Toys for Tots program is now underway. Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue are teaming up with the Rogue Valley Young Marines & Marine Corps Reserves and Josephine County Toys for Tots again this year to bring a special Christmas to kids in need. You can drop off new unwrapped gifts at several locations including Rural Metro Station 1 on Williams Highway, Rural Metro Station 2 on Monument Drive, Rural Metro Station 4 on Redwood Highway, Rural Metro Station 5 on Azalea Drive, Rural Metro's Administration Office on NE 6th Street, AMR's Administration Office on NW F Street and the Parkway Fire Station on East Park Street. Additional drop-off events this year will be in front of the Grants Pass Bi-Mart today and on Saturday, December 2nd, as well as at the Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony in Grants Pass. If you want to register your child to receive a gift from Toys for Tots, please visit: "josephine-county-or.toysfortots.org."

 

With the end of the COVID-19 federal public health emergency, the state is required to review eligibility for all 1.5 million Oregonians who have Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and other Medicaid benefits. These medical renewals combined with unprecedented levels of people applying for and receiving medical, food, cash and child care benefits have led to a historically high number of callers to the ONE Customer Service Center and is impacting call wait times. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is encouraging people in Oregon to use new alternate contact options given the high call wait times at the ONE Customer Service Center. The center provides phone support to people in Oregon calling to apply for or get help with their benefits. ODHS anticipates that wait times will remain high during open enrollment season for Medicare and the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. While people can apply for OHP any time of year, both open enrollment events increase awareness of an interest in applying for OHP. The ONE Customer Service Center can be reached by phone at 1-(800)-699-9075, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Call wait times are the lowest in the morning between 7 and 8, especially on Tuesday mornings. People are also welcome to visit their local ODHS office with questions.

 

Fall term admission numbers suggest the continuation of a strong rebound in enrollment at Southern Oregon University, led by the institution's largest freshman class since 2018. The number of new freshmen at SOU increased this fall by 15.1% compared to a year ago, while the number of incoming transfer students is up by 10.6%. According to SOU, the overall student headcount halfway through fall term is 162 higher than that of last fall -- a 3.4% gain to a total of 4,889. The increases among freshmen and transfers account for 84 and 30 students, respectively. SOU experienced a double-digit percentage decline in enrollment during the years following the COVID-19 pandemic and regional wildfires of September 2020. The university's turnaround began with small enrollment increases for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years, and has picked up momentum with encouraging overall numbers this fall. SOU officials said student retention plays a significant role in this fall's positive enrollment picture. Last year's freshman cohort returned this year at a rate of 66.3%, while total undergraduate retention is at 78% this fall.

 

Following Black Friday, it's Small Business Saturday when holiday shoppers are encouraged to spend their money at small local retailers. Grants Pass Mayor Sara Bristol recently presented a proclamation recognizing the economic impact of Small Business Saturday to Josie Molloy, the Executive Director of the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce and Grants Pass Downtown Welcome Center are the acting "neighborhood champions for small business" in the Shop Small event taking place today. November 25, 2023 is Small Business Saturday – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. This year, we know that small businesses need our support now more than ever. Small Business Saturday is a marketing initiative that was created and promoted by the American Express credit card brand to encourage holiday shopping on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the United States, during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for multiple crimes after he allegedly attacked his sister and a pet in Cave Junction early Thanksgiving Day. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested Joseph Stephen Christopher for the incident in the 100-block of North Caves Avenue on Thursday at 7:40 a.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her brother grabbed her and squeezed her neck so she had trouble breathing. The caller said her brother becomes violent when he gets "stressed out." She did not want to press charges and requested he be taken to the hospital for mental health evaluation instead. According to the report, Christopher also threatened his sister and an elderly male roommate who removed knives from the kitchen, hid them and tried to de-escalate the situation. Information was also disclosed that the suspect might become violent with responding deputies who were able to take him into custody without incident. Joseph Christopher was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Strangulation, Domestic 4th-Degree Assault, Menacing and 2nd-Degree Animal Abuse. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple counts of violating a court order after a domestic disturbance that occurred late last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 45-year-old Jeffrey Ray Roberts shortly after 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Roberts was booked into the Josephine County Jail at 11:22 p.m. for five counts of Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation and one count of 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. No other information about the arrest was available. Jeffrey Roberts was being held without bail.