Local News

Applications for the Grants Pass Weatherization/Rehabilitation Program are still available. The program gives low-income homeowners residing within the city a chance to apply for grants to help with accessibility, weatherization repairs or rehabilitation of their homes. The City of Grants Pass -- through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) -- is offering the program for city residents who own and occupy stick-built homes. No mobile homes or manufactured homes will be eligible, nor will rentals be eligible for the program this year. The CDBG program allocates funds each year for these types of projects based on the annual award the city receives from the US Housing and Urban Development Agency. The funds are limited, applications must meet prescribed income levels and not all repairs are eligible. Application packets have been distributed around the city as well as at the Grants Pass Community Development located in Suite 202 of City Hall, 101 NW A Street. You may drop off the completed application at the Community Development Office or e-mail it to Amber Neeck at "aneeck@grantspassoregon.gov." For more information on the program, call (541)-450-6060.

 

The Grants Pass City Council has given the green light to proceed with redesigning a downtown parking lot for use as a community gathering place. During its bi-weekly workshop session on Monday, a majority of the City Council approved plans to move ahead with the Owl Lot Plaza Update. Community Development Director Brad Clark affirmed that the primary purpose for the Owl Lot will continue to be parking, but he acknowledged the need for a community gathering space for large events such as Art Along the Rogue. Citizens who participated in a survey said the lot could benefit from increased shade, areas for seating, public art and historic interpretation. Clark said around $350,000 is available for the redesign and construction of the lot. Monday's discussion was the end of Phase 1 of the project, with Phase 2 being a draft of a Request for Proposal and Phase 3 the award of a construction contract. In other business, the Council voted 6-2 to hold a strategic planning session every two years instead of every year. A special workshop will be held in the off years to hear from the city's advisory committees and commissions. The first one will be held in January 2024. A motion to pay $15,000 to a consultant to facilitate the strategic planning session was defeated by a 5-3 vote.

 

It's time to consider the future of the Caretaker's Cottage in Riverside Park and the City of Grants Pass is seeking public input to help inform its decision related to demolition or rehabilitation of the historic structure. The public will have an opportunity to walk through the cottage from 5 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 2nd. The Grants Pass Historical Buildings and Sites Commission has been studying the Caretaker's Cottage -- which was built in 1920 -- because it's the only remaining original structure in Riverside Park, which was recently named a National Historic Landmark. The HBSC has recommended keeping and repurposing the structure. People can use an online link to take a brief survey to share their thoughts on whether to demolish the building or suggest a suitable use for the structure if the Grants Pass City Council decides to keep it. To take the survey, visit "grantspassoregon.gov/FormCenter/Community-Development-3/Caretakers-Cottage-in-Riverside-Park-103."

 

The Children's Halloween Parade will be taking place in Ashland this afternoon. The parade will begin at 3:30 p.m. in front of the Ashland Public Library and will move west along East Main Street toward the Plaza. East Main Street between Gresham and Water streets will be closed from 2:30 to 6 p.m.. Lithia Way will be set up for two-way traffic needs within the downtown corridor. Each year, Ashland's downtown nightlife swells in size as citizens from across the Rogue Valley celebrate Halloween. Ashland Police will be joined by police personnel from surrounding agencies to monitor all evening activities within the downtown Ashland area. In Grants Pass, many downtown merchants will be handing out candy to trick-or-treaters from 3 to 5 p.m. and River Valley Church will hold its "Fall Family Festival" from 5 to 8 p.m.. The Grants Pass High School National Honor Society will be hosting "Halloween at the High School" from 5 to 7 p.m..

 

Grants Pass Police jailed two men for stealing a vehicle and flatbed trailer valued at nearly $80,000 from the Spalding Industrial Park over the weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested 45-year-old Richard Dale Chalker, Jr, and 58-year-old Stephen Paul Kiyak in the 900-block of SE N Street at about 7:32 a.m. Saturday, shortly after the crime was reported. Police said a male caller to 9-1-1 reported that a Land Rover Explorer and a flatbed trailer were stolen from the 2200-block of NE Spalding Avenue. They said the Land Rover with British plates was on the trailer. The vehicles had been barricaded on the property, but the suspects removed the rocks in front of them in order to commit the heist. Responding officers pulled over a Ford F-250 that was towing the stolen trailer and Land Rover on SE N Street. Chalker was placed into custody without incident, but Kiyak fled into the backyard of a nearby home where he was eventually arrested with assistance from the Oregon State Police. The stolen vehicle and trailer were recovered, and the suspect vehicle was towed. Damage to the trailer axle was reported, which will cost around $2,000 to repair. Richard Chalker and Stephen Kiyak were both lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a total of seven charges including two counts each of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, plus single counts of Felony Aggravated Theft, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Criminal Conspiracy.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a suspect for multiple crimes after stopping a one-man weekend crime wave. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 40-year-old Jacob David Woolery at Home Depot on Saturday at 3:33 p.m. after had committed thefts at Gallop & Glitz in downtown Grants Pass as well as at Home Depot and from a vehicle parked at Home Depot. Police said they initially alerted to a theft complaint at Gallop & Glitz where a male subject later identified as Woolery stole four pairs of "Rock Revival" jeans valued at more than $700. The crime was captured on video surveillance before the suspect fled the scene south on G Street. Less than an hour later, police were notified about a male subject who unlawfully entered the back of a Dodge pickup and stole a leaf blower and gas can. The victim was able to see her property in the back of the suspect's vehicle while he was inside Home Depot committing another crime. Woolery was contacted with a cart full of Home Depot items he was loading into his vehicle. At no point did the suspect attempt to pay for the items, which were valued at nearly $900. All the merchandise was recovered and the suspect was found to be in possession of fentanyl while being placed into custody. Jacob Woolery was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for four counts of 2nd-Degree Theft, one count of Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and the narcotics violation.

 

A Grants Pass Police Department investigation into an alleged weekend assault at a south-city bar resulted in the arrest of a woman on an outstanding warrant. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 27-year-old Maria Alicia Sanchez for her alleged role in the assault at 238 Bar on Saturday afternoon -- but the incident reportedly happened around 1:30 that morning. Police said the female victim reported that Sanchez grabbed her hair and bashed head into the bar. The caller said the incident was witnessed by the bartender who told Sanchez to stop. However, after viewing video surveillance, officers decided that the alleged victim was actually the aggressor in the incident. During contact with Sanchez, it was discovered that she was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to an arrest for impaired driving. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a man on three active warrants while performing a welfare check at an Interstate 5 rest area late last week. OSP reports state troopers contacted 27-year-old Allen Totten Behrle at the south Manzanita Rest Area on Friday afternoon. Troopers said a citizen requested they perform a welfare check on Behrle because he was acting in an odd manner at the rest stop. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the man was wanted on one felony warrant and two misdemeanor warrants. Criminal allegations contained in the warrants included 1st-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief along with failing to appear in court for Resisting Arrest and Menacing. Allen Behrle was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed his vehicle in the North Valley area over the weekend. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies and emergency crews responded to a single-vehicle wreck in the 1100-block of Plumtree Lane on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.. Deputies said they received a report of a Ford F-250 pickup that left the roadway, crashed into two road signs and landed in some trees. The driver -- later identified as 61-year-old Darryl Leland Haugh -- climbed out of his vehicle and was not hurt. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Haugh who displayed signs of impairment. After performing poorly in field sobriety tests, he was placed into custody. Darryl Haugh was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving and two counts of Criminal Mischief. His damaged pickup was impounded and Josephine County Public Works was notified about damage to the road signs.