Local News

GP Police Incarcerated Defiant Camper Who Refused to Leave City Park
Grants Pass Police arrested a defiant camper at a city park along the Rogue River yesterday. At Tussing Park, officers said they contacted a man who refused to leave the park after he had been issued a 30-day exclusion more than one week ago. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. The man was also trespassed from Tussing Park for an additional 30 days and his belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping. Meanwhile, a total of 11 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping at the park and an e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network (UCAN).
Posted on 3/15/24 10:08AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Jailed Man for Local Warrant and Spitting on Officer at Post Office
Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant and then added a felony-level charge to his criminal bill after he intentionally spat on an officer. The Police Department reports officers responded to a fight between two male subjects at the downtown Post Office on Wednesday afternoon. Police said passing motorists on NW 6th Street called 9-1-1 to report the brawl between the men, one of whom was riding a bicycle. They contacted both parties, including a 46-year-old man who was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for Disorderly Conduct. That man was placed into custody. While being placed in the backseat of a patrol vehicle, the man intentionally expelled saliva from his mouth and spit on an officer's face. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant along with a new charge of Felony Aggravated Harassment. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 3/15/24 5:50AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Incarcerated Woman for Raising Ruckus in TRMC Emergency Room
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for raising a ruckus at Three Rivers Medical Center early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a disturbance at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue on Thursday shortly after 3 a.m.. Police said the female subject was transported to the hospital from the downtown 7-Eleven store for unspecified reasons. When she was asked to exit the emergency room, she refused and reportedly caused alarm in the ER lobby by acting in a violent and tumultuous manner. Officers said the woman's behavior continued to escalate when she swore at them, threatened to shoot them and threw items at them, all while screaming profanities. Records show the woman is no stranger to the Josephine County Jail. She was taken there and lodged without bail on a charge of Disorderly Conduct.
Posted on 3/15/24 5:49AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Collared Man on Statewide Felony Warrant after US Highway 199 Stop
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant this week during a traffic stop on Redwood Highway in the Illinois Valley. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a white Toyota sedan driven by a 56-year-old man on US Highway 199 near Squaw Mountain Road on Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said the driver was slow to pull over, but did so after turning onto Falling Leaf Road. They said they stopped the man for traffic violations and learned that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for Felony Assault. After the warrant was confirmed, the suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 3/15/24 5:47AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Collared Man on Vehicle Theft Warrant after Welfare Check at Tavern
Grants Pass Police jailed a man on a local felony warrant this week after a welfare check at a Rogue River Highway watering hole. The Police Department reports officers were patrolling Highway 99 on Wednesday night when they received a report of a male subject using fentanyl in the parking lot of O'Aces Tavern. Police said they contacted and detained the 23-year-old man before discovering that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. There was no further mention of narcotics in the report. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held without bail.
Posted on 3/15/24 5:46AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Nabbed Motorist for Impaired Driving after Redwood Highway Stop near GP
The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving this week after a traffic stop on Redwood Highway near Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford F-150 pickup driven by a 32-year-old man on US Highway 199 near Hubbard Lane late Wednesday night. Troopers said they stopped the driver for traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample exceeding the legal driving limit. The motorist was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. He was cited to appear in court and then released. Per his request, his vehicle was picked up by a family member.
Posted on 3/15/24 5:44AM by Sam Marsh
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ODF and Jackson County Fire District 3 Extinguish Grass Fire near Central Point
The Oregon Department of Forestry and Jackson County Fire District #3 put out a small grass fire near Central Point on Thursday. ODF officials said the grass fire in the 5,000-block of Tamarack Lane was reported at about 1:15 p.m. yesterday. Both agencies responded with full resources and firefighters were able to stop the blaze at a half-acre. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Officials urged Southern Oregon residents to be aware that fires are more prone to start and spread as warm temperatures begin to materialize this spring. For more information on fire prevention, please visit "swofire.com."
Posted on 3/15/24 5:31AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Accepting Applications for Collaborative Economic Development Committee
Applications are being accepted for a position on the Collaborative Economic Development Committee (CEDC) due to a vacancy. This term is due to expire on June 30, 2025. The CEDC is an advisory committee that is responsible for the implementation of the joint Economic Development Strategic Plan adopted by the Grants Pass City Council and Josephine County Board of Commissioners. The Economic Development Strategic Plan can be found on the City website at "grantspassoregon.gov." Target areas include services, infrastructure and workforce development. All members of the CEDC must be at least 18 years of age and reside within the boundaries of Josephine County. The special qualification or experience for this position is Business Retail. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, April 18th.
Posted on 3/15/24 5:30AM by Sam Marsh
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US Senators Wyden and Merkley Announce Major Funding for Cole Rivers Fish Hatchery
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US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced major investments to enhance water infrastructure and conservation including nearly $3 million for the Cole Rivers Fish Hatchery in Jackson County. More than $12.5 million in funding for eight critical community-initiated projects across the state have passed through the Fiscal Year 2024 Minibus Funding Package. The six-bill package cleared both chambers of Congress last week and was quickly signed into law by President Biden. Wyden and Merkley secured the investments in the Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water Development bill in the funding package. It supports programs and projects to enhance water infrastructure, small ports and fisheries. The Cole Rivers Hatchery on the Rogue River will receive $2.92 million for repairs to the fresh water supply system. This will prevent the complete failure of and loss of fish at the hatchery as well as to help create a more climate-resilient hatchery that meets its mitigation obligations, reliably sustains regionally important fisheries and economies, and plays a key role in conservation programs for at-risk native fish populations. The Oregon Senators said these actions will boost job creation, particularly in rural and coastal communities.
Posted on 3/15/24 5:27AM by Sam Marsh
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Pacific Power Foundation Awards Art Grants to Support Six Rogue Valley Organizations
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The Pacific Power Foundation is donating more than $110,000 to organizations that deliver music, theater, community festivals and connections that are essential to their communities in the three states it serves. Pacific Power officials say these organizations create beauty, join people together across cultures, generate jobs and nurture the creativity needed to solve complex problems. Six grants totaling $19,000 were given to organizations supporting communities in the Rogue Valley region. In Josephine County, grants were awarded to the Grants Pass High School Band Boosters for props, trailer wraps and instruments, Grants Pass Museum of Art for a traveling Ezra Tucker exhibit and Rotary Foundation for the installation of a new mural in downtown Grants Pass. In Jackson County, grants were awarded to the Rogue Gallery & Arts Center for the annual "Best of the Best Student Art Show"; the Southern Oregon Historical Society to digitize, preserve and make publicly available over 6,000 glass plate negatives made by pioneering western US photographer Peter Britt; and the Talent Historical Society for a celebration of that city's cultural and artistic heritage.
Posted on 3/15/24 5:17AM by Sam Marsh
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New Josephine County Sheriff's Office App Now Available for Citizen Downloads
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The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is excited to announce that its new app build is complete and ready for citizens to download. Features include the ability to file online reports, submit tips, compliment staff and much more. Citizens who sign up for "push notifications" will be alerted when there is urgent news such as severe weather, fire alerts and road closures. This does not replace signing up for Citizen Alerts -- which can also be done on the app -- but it's another form of emergency communication when situations may be changing rapidly. People are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the app and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office is open to feedback as they begin to use it. The Sheriff's Office tried to cover all of the bases, but won't know what is important to you unless you share with them. iPhone users can download the app at "apps.apple.com" while Android users can download the app at "play.google.com."
Posted on 3/15/24 5:15AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Felon on Statewide Warrant after Lois Lane Trespass Complaint
Grants Pass Police jailed a local felon on a statewide warrant after they found him sleeping in a vehicle in the Redwood area early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a male subject sitting in a silver Ford pickup with a canopy in the 2900-block of Lois Lane at 8:35 a.m. Wednesday. Police said a neighbor knocked on the window of the pickup and the 38-year-old man told them he was waiting for a friend. The caller told dispatchers she had seen his mug shot on a wanted poster, so she called 9-1-1. Responding officers contacted the man and confirmed that he is a convicted felon who was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a past conviction for Possession of Dangerous Drugs. After the warrant was confirmed with Oregon State Parole Board, the suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 3/14/24 10:22AM by Sam Marsh
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