Local News

Grants Pass Police Nabbed 2 Campers during Patrol Checks at Baker Park
Grants Pass Police arrested two people in separate incidents at Baker Park last night. According to the Police Department, officers were performing a patrol check at the city park on Wednesday around 10:30 p.m. when they contacted 30-year-old Kody Tyler Halverson and 53-year-old Theresa Deline Glastetter. Few details about the encounter with Halverson were disclosed, but he was placed into custody for Felony Parole Violation stemming from theft and criminal trespass convictions. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. A short time later, officers contacted Glastetter and discovered that she was wanted on two warrants issued by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. After the warrants were confirmed, she was lodged awaiting transfer to the jail facility in Medford.
Posted on 2/15/24 11:09AM by Sam Marsh
 

ODFW Marks Presidents Weekend by Providing Two Free Fishing Days
Make fishing a part of your Presidents' Day Weekend plans with friends and family. Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free this Saturday and Sunday. No fishing or shellfish licenses or tags are required those two days. Both Oregon residents and nonresidents can fish for free. All other fishing regulations apply including closures, size restrictions and bag limits. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for rules and remember to check for any in-season regulation changes especially for salmon and steelhead fishing. For beginners, Easy Angling Oregon is a great guide to getting started fishing in Oregon. If you live near Medford, Roseburg, Bend, Portland or in Lane County, there are lots of nearby options. Prefer to crab or clam instead? "MyODFW.com" has all the information you need to get started. Remember to check ocean conditions and take safety precautions -- always clam with a friend and never turn your back on the ocean. Currently, crabbing is open along the entire Oregon coast. Razor clamming is closed from Cape Blanco south to the California border.
Posted on 2/15/24 11:04AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Jailed GP Area Man for Roughing Up Girlfriend at Home West of City
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Grants Pass area man for roughing up his girlfriend at a residence west of the city this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 64-year-old Richard Ray McDonald for the incident in the 200-block of Jasmine Drive off Lower River Road late Tuesday night. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report she went to the home to visit her friend when she witnessed McDonald hitting the victim and placing his hand on her throat. The caller advised there was an ongoing issue with the suspect being abusive to the victim, and he was destroying things in the house while impaired by alcohol. He reportedly also made a comment about shooting the complainant. The caller and victim made it out of the home to call for help, arranging to meet with deputies at Lathrop Boat Landing. Deputies interviewed the women and went to the house where they placed the suspect into custody. Richard McDonald was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of Domestic Strangulation and Physical Harassment. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 2/15/24 5:58AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Incarcerated Corrections Client for Falsifying Results of Drug Test
Grants Pass Police arrested a corrections client for violating his post-prison supervision by falsifying the results of a mandatory drug test this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 29-year-old Jackson Frank Potter at the Josephine County Community Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Tuesday. Police said Potter used someone else's urine in a hidden Visine bottle to provide a sample for his corrections officer. The officer caught him in the act, which is a direct violation of his supervision. Jackson Potter was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Falsifying Drug Test Results and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Potter has been arrested four times for Parole Violation since June 15th of last year.
Posted on 2/15/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Collared Man Wanted on State Warrant after North Valley Traffic Stop
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant this week following a traffic stop in the North Valley area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by 32-year-old Shelby Anthony Acosta near the corner of Saratoga Way and Camp Joy Road on Tuesday. Deputies said they observed Acosta driving by and recognized him from previous law enforcement contacts. They said a routine records check revealed that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a past assault conviction. Shelby Acosta was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant.
Posted on 2/15/24 5:55AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Man on Coos Bay Warrant during Recent Contact at Walmart
Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an out-of-county warrant after contacting him at Walmart early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers made contact with 29-year-old Jacob Levi Reeder in the parking lot of the store on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday at about 1:30 a.m.. Police were performing a patrol check at Walmart when they observed Reeder who was well known to them from previous contacts. They said a routine records check revealed that he was wanted on a Coos Bay Police Department warrant for Disorderly Conduct. The warrant was confirmed through dispatch. Reeder was detained before being cited and released on the warrant. His court date at Coos County Circuit Court in Coquille is March 1st.
Posted on 2/15/24 5:54AM by Sam Marsh
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ODOT Contractor to Pay for Damage to Trailer Hit by Falling Tree on Freeway
An ODOT contractor will pay expenses to the owner of a commercial trailer that was damaged by a falling tree on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County. The Oregon State Police reports the mishap occurred in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 78 on Tuesday. Troopers said ODOT had contracted G & S Trucking to cut and remove trees in the freeway median at that location. They said a semi-truck pulling a soft-sided trailer was traveling in the slow lane when a tree that was cut by the contractor fell toward I-5 and struck the top of the trailer, damaging several metal braces. OSP identified the truck driver as 43-year-old Aimee Ruthe Harris, who was not hurt. She was able to drive the semi and trailer away after the accident. ODOT and G & S supervisors exchanged contact information, with the contractor to pay for damages to the trailer.
Posted on 2/15/24 5:51AM by Sam Marsh
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Veterans Appreciation Lunch Set for Saturday at OSU Extension Office in GP
The Josephine County 4-H Association & 4-H Youth are presenting a Veterans Appreciation Luncheon in Grants Pass on Saturday. The special event is being held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the OSU Extension Auditorium, which is located at 215 Ringuette Street. The luncheon is free for veterans and $5 for guests. Veterans can enjoy a free lunch and explore resources available to them. Advance RSVP is required. Please call (541)-476-6613 or stop by the OSU Extension Office next to the Josephine County Fairgrounds.
Posted on 2/15/24 5:48AM by Sam Marsh
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Commissioners Approved First Reading of Wildfire Ordinance and Referred Levy to Voters
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The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved the first reading of an ordinance that changes wildfire and emergency safety standards as they pertain to new dwellings. The Board voted unanimously to approve the first reading following a public hearing, and set the second reading and possible adoption for February 28th. The ordinance would amend the Rural Land Development Code to the minimum requirements under Oregon law. Assistant Legal Counsel Stephanie Nuttall said the amendment removes the fire coverage requirement for new building permits in Josephine County. She added that it does not prevent property owners from contracting with a private fire protection service or annexing into an existing fire protection district. The Oregon Department of Forestry charges a fee to protect properties in designated forest zones. Under Administrative Actions, the Board approved a resolution referring a five-year local option tax for the Animal Shelter and Animal Control to the May 21st ballot. Voters will decide whether to increase the current levy amount of 11 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value to 47 cents per thousand, with 27 cents going toward operations and 19 cents going toward physical improvements at the aging shelter. The physical improvement portion of the levy would end after a loan from Oregon Business Services is fully repaid.
Posted on 2/15/24 5:39AM by Sam Marsh
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Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians Makes Large Donation for New GP Library
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The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is supporting the future of the Josephine Community Library District with a very large grant award. Cow Creek Tribal Chairperson Carla Keene will visit the Grants Pass branch library next week to present a $250,000 contribution toward the construction of a new downtown library. The Cow Creek Band has committed to supporting the Grants Pass library building project with the $250,000 donation split into $50,000 payments over five years. Community members are invited to help celebrate next Monday from 10 a.m. to noon. Other local organizations receiving donations from the Cow Creek Band during the celebration include the Josephine County Children's Advocacy Center and GP Home Bridging. Last June, the Josephine Community Library Foundation purchased the block between 6th, 7th, J and K streets for a new library in downtown Grants Pass as part of its support of new and improved facilities for the community. The community raised $1,925,000 for the purchase from individual donors and other supporters including the Four Way Community Foundation, Echo Fund, Bennett Fund, Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon Cultural Trust and Avista Utility.
Posted on 2/15/24 5:37AM by Sam Marsh
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Eagle Point PD Hosting Dunk-a-Cop Fundraiser for Special Olympic Athletes on Saturday
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The third annual "Dunk-a-Cop" fundraiser for Special Olympics Oregon will be held this weekend in the North Medford Walmart parking lot. The event runs Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Walmart located at 3615 Crater Lake Highway. It's free and open to the public. Local law enforcement agencies from across the Rogue Valley will don their swim trunks for a great cause: to help Special Olympics Oregon athletes with intellectual disabilities. Every ball thrown brings police officers closer to a dunk in cold water. The Eagle Point Police Department's "Plunging Eagles" and Walmart are sponsors of this special fundraiser. The event is in preparation for the upcoming Southern Oregon Polar Plunge on March 2nd. EPPD will also be selling challenge coins for $15 and plunge patches for their team. EPPD Chief Jim Hamilton is the creator of this event, which was formerly held in Grants Pass. He said a donation of $5 will get participants one throw, $10 for two and $15 for three. A guaranteed dunk is a flat $25 donation.
Posted on 2/15/24 5:34AM by Sam Marsh
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Board Approves 1st Reading of Wildfire Ordinance and Refers Levy to Voters
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning approved the first reading of an ordinance that changes wildfire and emergency safety standards as they pertain to new dwellings. The Board voted unanimously to approve the first reading following a public hearing, and set the second reading and possible adoption for February 28th. The ordinance would amend the Rural Land Development Code to the minimum requirements under Oregon law. Assistant Legal Counsel Stephanie Nuttall said the amendment removes the fire coverage requirement for new building permits in Josephine County. She added that it does not prevent property owners from contracting with a private fire protection service or annexing into an existing fire protection district. The Oregon Department of Forestry charges a fee to protect properties in designated forest zones. Under Administrative Actions, the Board approved a resolution referring a five-year local option tax for the Animal Shelter and Animal Control to the May 21st ballot. Voters will decide whether to increase the current levy amount of 11 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value to 47 cents per thousand, with 27 cents going toward operations and 19 cents going toward physical improvements at the aging shelter. The physical improvement portion of the levy would end after a loan from Oregon Business Services is fully repaid.
Posted on 2/14/24 12:21PM by Sam Marsh
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