Local News

BCC Expected to Hire Former Commissioner as Regional Broadband Coordinator
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is expected to hire a familiar person to be its regional broadband coordinator during its business session tomorrow morning. The Board will consider a contract with former Commissioner Simon Hare as a private contractor for facilitating regional broadband project coordination. The contract is for 2024 or until services are completed, whichever event comes first. If approved, Hare will serve as the liaison between the Board of Commissioners and the Josephine County Broadband Action Team as well as others. He will be expected to contribute about 96 hours each month to oversight and coordination at a rate of $1,600 a month. The contract is not to exceed a total of $19,200. In other business, the Board will consider an intergovernmental agreement between Josephine County and the Rogue Valley Council of Governments for grant-writing services. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when citizens are given three minutes to address the Board on just about any topic. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.
Posted on 2/20/24 11:41AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Jailed Felon for Parole Violation after He Stole Pants from Thrift Store
Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for violating terms of his post-prison supervision yesterday after he was caught stealing a pair of pants from a local thrift store. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 31-year-old Joseph Lee-Al Sierra for the incident at Booth Street Thrift Store on Monday at 1:44 p.m.. Police said Sierra stole a pair of pants valued at $10 from the store, fled on foot and was contacted one block away. They said the store manager chased the suspect after witnessing the crime, but stopped when the suspect reached into his pocket. Sierra was placed into custody without incident. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft and the resulting Parole Violation stemming from a May 2023 conviction for 3rd-Degree Robbery, 3rd-Degree Theft and Criminal Trespass. The stolen pants were removed from the suspect at the jail and returned to the store.
Posted on 2/20/24 11:23AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Incarcerated Man for Vandalizing Downtown Church Late Last Week
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for vandalizing a downtown church late last week. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the incident at First Christian Church on SW H Street on Monday morning, but the event actually occurred on Friday at 2:49 a.m.. Police said 38-year-old Travis Randal Davenport ripped a disabled person door activation device off the church. The crime was caught on video surveillance. Officers contacted Davenport late yesterday at 7th and C streets. He admitted to stealing the item and throwing it behind another building. He did not disclose his motivation for the crime, which caused about $500 in damage. Travis Davenport was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 2/20/24 11:21AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Man on Warrant after He Followed Family Around Walmart
Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant after he caused a weekend disturbance at Walmart. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at the store on NE Terry Lane on Sunday shortly after 9 a.m.. Police said 54-year-old Charles Wayne Burton followed a family around Walmart for approximately 20 minutes, making them extremely uncomfortable. They said the suspect was driving a store scooter when he followed a woman and her mother to the parking lot. When approached by the woman's boyfriend, Burton said he was waiting for someone and he walked away. Charles Burton was contacted back inside the store and he was found to be wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Probation Violation. He was lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer and he was trespassed from Walmart.
Posted on 2/20/24 11:19AM by Sam Marsh
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CJ Man Hurt after Crashing Jeep into Tree off US Highway 199 near Wilderville
A Cave Junction man was injured when he crashed his vehicle into a tree off Redwood Highway in the Wilderville area late last week. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle accident near milepost 9 of US Highway 199 at Round Prairie Road on Friday at 2 p.m.. State troopers said an investigation determined that 52-year-old James Losey was driving a Jeep Gladiator when he left the highway and crashed into a tree. It was not known what caused him to lose control of his vehicle. Losey was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass for treatment of moderate injuries. No one else was hurt. The damaged Jeep was hauled to Cave Junction by Jerry's Towing.
Posted on 2/20/24 11:18AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Arrested Motorist for DUII after She Caused Interstate 5 Collision in GP
The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for causing a crash on Interstate 5 in Grants Pass while impaired last weekend. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision near milepost 55 of I-5 on Sunday at 9:57 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation determined that 23-year-old Delaney Leigh Page was driving a Hyundai Kona when she clipped the left rear corner of a Kia Amanti driven by 19-year-old Skyler James Nyber of Kearns, Utah, forcing it off the road. According to OSP, an 18-year-old female passenger in the Kia complained of hip pain and she was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center. Page appeared to be impaired at the crash scene and she performed poorly in field sobriety tests. She was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she provided a breath sample that was more than twice the legal driving limit. Delaney Page was lodged at the Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, 4th-Degree Assault and Reckless Endangering. Both vehicles were towed from the scene and the Hyundai was taken to the impound yard.
Posted on 2/20/24 11:16AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Nabbed Motorist for Drugged Driving in North Grants Pass Traffic Stop
The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for drugged driving late last week during a traffic stop in north Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Toyota driven by 47-year-old Stefan Douglas Katz near the intersection of NE 7th Street and Morgan Lane on Friday morning. Troopers said they stopped Katz for a traffic violation, he displayed indicators of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. He was transported to the Sobering Center where he provided a negative breath sample for alcohol. A drug recognition specialist was called in and concluded he was impaired by narcotics. Stefan Katz was lodged at the Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances. His vehicle was impounded.
Posted on 2/20/24 11:15AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Trespassed Total of 16 Campers from City Parks on Presidents Day
Grants Pass Police evicted a total of 16 people from city parks on Presidents Day. At Westholm Park, Brian Stack and Alic Hendrickson were cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Misuse of Park Open Space while Treveillian Heartfelt was cited for Illegal Camping and Buffer Zone Violation. At Gilbert Creek Park, Steven Juergensen and Brittney Adams were found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia with fentanyl residue. Juergensen was arrested on a warrant for 3rd-Degree Theft. At Fruitdale Park, Janique Kocst was cited for Nuisance Dog and Unnecessary Noise. At Morrison Centennial Park, Marylynn Humphrey and John Francis were cited for Illegal Camping while Danyelle Pittman was cited for Scattering Rubbish. At Tussing Park, Tammy Whetzel was cited for Buffer Zone Violation, Michael Cowan was cited for Misuse of Park Open Space, and Aliczandr McClymonds and Caitlin Fossen were cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Misuse of Park Open Space. At Baker Park, Tyson Hutchinson, William Stroh and Travis Blake were cited for Illegal Camping. Blake was also cited for Misuse of Park Open Space.
Posted on 2/20/24 11:13AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Apprehended Woman on Statewide Warrant after Fitness Center Call
Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman wanted on a statewide felony warrant following a weekend incident at a local fitness center. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a medical call at Planet Fitness on Williams Highway on Saturday night. Police said 48-year-old Terri Lee Brown was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center due to an unspecified injury. Officers said there was a male subject with two large swastika tattoos on his chest becoming violent, so they moved to avoid a confrontation and then followed the ambulance to the hospital. Additional units responded for the hostile man who was identified as "McGhee." While at the hospital, it was determined that Brown was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for Felony Mail Theft. Terri Brown was cleared by hospital staff and then lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 2/20/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Man for Public Indecency during Argument at Local Motel
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for felony indecent behavior at a local motel last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 45-year-old Steven Adam Hughes at the Grants Pass Travelodge on NW Vine Street around midday Saturday. Police said Hughes and the motel manager got into an argument over the price of a room. They said he exposed and briefly fondled himself in front of the woman, and he did so in clear view of the public -- including two witnesses who retreated to a nearby restaurant and called 9-1-1. After placing Hughes into custody at the motel, officers learned that he had a prior conviction for indecent behavior in 2019. Steven Hughes was lodged at the Josephine County for Felony Public Indecency. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 2/20/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Nabbed Woman for Trying to Steal nearly $1K in Walmart Property
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for attempting to steal nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting call involving 42-year-old Carol Ann Shimer at the big box store on NE Terry Lane on Saturday afternoon. Police said Shimer went to Walmart and selected more than $939 worth of items after she had purchased her prescription medications. They said she passed all points of sale and failed to pay for the large shopping cart full of merchandise. Carol Shimer was initially uncooperative with loss prevention at the store. She was placed into custody and lodged at the nearby Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. A debit card in her possession was returned to a man staying at Motel 6.
Posted on 2/20/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Police Snared Man for Trying to Swipe Merchandise from Walmart
Grants Pass Police arrested a repeat trespasser for attempting to steal merchandise from Walmart last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting call involving 33-year-old Matthew Dylan Barnett at the store on NE Terry Lane on Sunday at about 4:10 p.m.. Police said Barnett stole more than $224 in items from Walmart by swapping out his old shoes for new shoes off the shelf and he loaded a new backpack full of items before passing all points of sale and exiting the business without paying. Barnett was detained by loss prevention, placed into custody by officers and the stolen property was returned to Walmart. A records check showed that he had been trespassed from the store on December 21st of last year. Matthew Barnett was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was once again trespassed from Walmart.
Posted on 2/20/24 6:10AM by Sam Marsh
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