Local News

Sheriff's Office Investigation Led to Arrest of Illinois Valley Woman for Theft 2
A Josephine County Sheriff's Office investigation led to the arrest of an Illinois Valley woman on a theft charge yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 40-year-old Stacy Elizabeth Schwarz in the 3500-block of Rockydale Road on Thursday at 3:09 p.m.. Deputies said they had probable cause from an ongoing investigation to arrest Schwarz for 2nd-Degree Theft. No information about the alleged theft was available except that deputies had been looking for her for several days. Stacy Schwarz was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. Jail records show that Schwarz was arrested for Endangering the Welfare of a Minor twice last year -- on September 8th and November 15th.
Posted on 3/1/24 11:56AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Snared Man for Drugs while Conducting Investigation into Burglaries
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for drug possession yesterday while they were conducting a burglary investigation in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers responded to the break-in of apartments in the 800-block of SW 5th Street on Thursday around 12:40 p.m.. Police said two apartments had been burglarized after both were entered by force from their back doors. They said approximately $5,000 in household items were stolen from the residences. One tenant reported that her safe was missing. Officers processed both crime scenes and some fingerprints were lifted. The upstairs neighbor -- identified as "Calvin Bertik" -- gave consent to search his apartment where small amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine were found. Bertik was cited to appear in court for the two narcotics violations and released. According to GPPD, the burglary investigation was continuing.
Posted on 3/1/24 11:55AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Nabbed Man on Local Warrant after Home Depot Trespassing Call
Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding local warrant following a trespassing complaint at Home Depot. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the trespassing call involving 27-year-old Spencer P. Ryder at the home improvement store on NE Mill Street around 10:45 a.m. Thursday. Police said the Home Depot manager called 9-1-1 to report that Ryder had been inside the restroom for hours, using the facility for personal hygiene including bathing in the sink. They said Ryder left the store after being contacted by the manager and he started running. He was detained after being recognized. Ryder reportedly told officers that he swallowed a baggie of fentanyl right before he was apprehended. He was found to be wanted on a Medford Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Furnishing False Information to Police. Spencer Ryder was medically cleared and refused transport to the hospital, which was against the advice of paramedics. He was cited to appear in Jackson County Circuit Court on the warrant and then released.
Posted on 3/1/24 11:53AM by Sam Marsh
 

Sources Report Fatal Crash between Vehicle and Pedestrian on Parkdale
Local law enforcement agencies have not yet confirmed the incident, but a fatal accident between a vehicle and a pedestrian reportedly occurred in the southeast part of the city this week. Trusted sources report a male pedestrian was struck and killed by a female driver on Parkdale Drive between Rogue River Highway and Fruitdale Drive at about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday. There was no report on the incident from the Grants Pass Police Department or the Oregon State Police yesterday, but the Pulsepoint app shows Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and American Medical Response responded to that location at 8:53 p.m.. Sources said a man was struck by a vehicle and CPR was in progress when emergency responders arrived on scene. The victim's pulse was regained and the trauma system at Three Rivers Medical Center was activated. However, the victim was confirmed to be deceased a short time later. No other details were available and we are still awaiting information from GPPD and/or OSP.
Posted on 3/1/24 6:39AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Arrested Pair for Entering a Vacant Residence in Cave Junction
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two people for entering a vacant residence in Cave Junction this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a trespassing complaint at a home in the 300-block of South Kerby Avenue on Wednesday morning. Deputies said the owner called 9-1-1 to report two people and a white van were on his property. The owner lives in Washington state and was alerted to the suspects by a neighbor who said they were removing wiring from the house. Trail cameras took photos of the suspects and minivan that were automatically forwarded to him. Upon arrival, deputies found 38-year-old Anthony Pope and 30-year-old Tara Hanson on the property, which had clearly posted "No Trespassing" signs on the fence and the home. Both suspects had made entry with no right or lawful reason to be there. They were placed into custody. Anthony Pope and Tara Hanson were transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. They were being held without bail.
Posted on 3/1/24 6:30AM by Sam Marsh
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Josephine County Sheriff Warning Residents about Familar Scam Activity
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office has received several recent complaints regarding a familiar scam. Sheriff's officials said citizens are being called by an individual who claims to work for the Sheriff's Office, demanding they discuss a legal matter with them. Variations include having an outstanding warrant, missing jury duty or citations that will be escalated if they are not taken care of immediately. The callback phone number displayed on caller IDs appears to be "spoofed," which means scammers can make a different phone number show up that isn't the one they're calling from. Typically, these scammers will demand some sort of payment over the phone, through an app or by purchasing gift cards. Officials say law enforcement does not operate in this fashion. As with any of these types of scams, it's always a good idea to just hang up and not provide any personal information over the phone. If you think it could be legit, search for the business's phone number yourself and call to verify any information that was relayed to you. Please take the time to share this with your family and friends, especially those who are not on social media.
Posted on 3/1/24 6:19AM by Sam Marsh
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Part of Jerome Prairie Road Closing Monday for GPID Culvert Replacement
The Josephine County Public Works Department has announced that Jerome Prairie Road will be closed in the 5300-block for a Grants Pass Irrigation District cross culvert replacement on Monday. The closure is expected to last one day to all traffic including emergency vehicles. The traveling public is advised to find alternate routes around the work zone. Public Works officials said they understand this is a significant inconvenience for residents and other motorists. They appreciate their patience and cooperation during the project. For more information, contact Josephine County Public Works at (541)-474-5460.
Posted on 3/1/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh
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Three Rivers School Board Votes to Refer $39 Million Bond to Patrons on May 21st Ballot
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The Three Rivers School Board has voted unanimously to move forward with a school bond measure on the May 21st ballot. Three Rivers Communications Coordinator Wendy Giordano said the primary focus of this initiative is to re-roof aging buildings and enhance the safety and security of students and staff, with a specific emphasis on access control measures. In assessing the security needs of Three Rivers schools, the Board's strategy involves strengthening school perimeters to effectively deter and delay potential threats. Implementation methods will be tailored to individual site characteristics and may include the addition of fencing, gates, buzz-in entry systems equipped with cameras or key-card entry systems. A significant portion of the allocated funds will be directed toward essential maintenance projects, notably the re-roofing of 18 buildings across the district. A recent long-range facilities plan identified an urgent need for roofing repair or replacement, given the district-wide average building age of 60 years. If the district can gain approval of the $39 million bond measure, it has secured a matching state grant of $6 million. The projected tax rate associated with this bond is 55 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value.
Posted on 3/1/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh
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New Oregon Unemployment Insurance Benefits Online System Goes "Live" Monday Morning
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The Oregon Employment Department is just days away from launching a brand new, easy-to-use online system for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. UI benefits go "live" through Frances Online on Monday at 8 a.m.. Frances Online offers features that will provide a better customer service experience for UI claimants. It's also mobile-friendly. Claimants will be able to do a lot more things online through self-serve features instead of waiting for a letter in the mail or calling the UI Contact Center. Oregon Employment Department Director David Gerstenfeld said with Frances Online, they'll be able to serve Oregonians better and get their benefits paid quicker. The system migration began Wednesday night. Some services went offline and the Contact Center was closed on Thursday. All UI systems, phone lines and customer service options are now temporarily unavailable until Monday at 8 a.m.. During the planned service outage, UI customers cannot file initial claims, file weekly claims, restart claims, check the status of claims or make changes to claim information. To learn more about the new system, customer service impacts, new self-serve features and what to expect on Monday, visit "unemployment.oregon.gov/frances."
Posted on 3/1/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
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ODOT: Winter Weather Makes for Hazardous Travel Conditions in Many Parts of Oregon
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Crews from the Oregon Department of Transportation are working to make roads safe as a new round of winter storms hit Oregon yesterday. High winds plus heavy snow and rain are making travel hazardous in many corners of the state. ODOT officials said the road surface is just one concern during winter storms. High winds and precipitation often cause debris such as trees and rocks to fall onto roadways. In the mountains and high elevation areas, heavy snow and high winds can create whiteout conditions, severely limiting visibility. Travelers should stay aware and be prepared for delays and closures. Motorists should consult "tripcheck.com" and check weather forecasts on their planned routes. "Tripcheck.com" provides "live" cameras showing road conditions around the state along with other information that can help travel planning including altitude and temperature. If you must travel during a winter storm, be prepared. Pack your vehicle with the essentials like tire chains, blankets, warm clothing, food, water and medications. Make sure your vehicle's fuel tank is full and your phone battery is fully charged.
Posted on 3/1/24 6:11AM by Sam Marsh
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Trusted Sources Report Fatal Crash between Vehicle and Pedestrian in SE GP
Local law enforcement agencies have not yet confirmed the incident, but a fatal accident between a vehicle and a pedestrian reportedly occurred in the southeast part of the city last night. Trusted sources report a male pedestrian was struck and killed by a female driver on Parkdale Drive between Rogue River Highway and Fruitdale Drive around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday. There was no report on the incident from the Grants Pass Police Department or the Oregon State Police this morning, but the Pulsepoint app shows Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and American Medical Response responded to that location at 8:53 p.m.. Sources said a man was struck by a vehicle and CPR was in progress when emergency responders arrived on scene. The victim's pulse was regained and the trauma system at Three Rivers Medical Center was activated. However, the victim was confirmed to be deceased a short time later. No one was identified. No other information was available this morning and we are awaiting information from GPPD and/or OSP.
Posted on 2/29/24 10:48AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Arrested Two People for Entering a Vacant Residence in Cave Junction
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two people for entering a vacant residence in Cave Junction early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a trespassing complaint at a home in the 300-block of South Kerby Avenue on Wednesday at 7:41 a.m.. Deputies said the owner called 9-1-1 to report two people and a white van were on his property. The owner lives in Washington state and was alerted to the suspects by a neighbor who said they were removing wiring from the house. Trail cameras took photos of the suspects and minivan that were automatically forwarded to him. Upon arrival, deputies found 38-year-old Anthony Pope and 30-year-old Tara Hanson on the property, which had clearly posted "No Trespassing" signs on the fence and the home. Both suspects had made entry with no right or lawful reason to be there. They were placed into custody. Anthony Pope and Tara Hanson were transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. They were being held without bail.
Posted on 2/29/24 10:47AM by Sam Marsh
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