Local News

GP Police Evicted Woman from City Park after She Failed to Obey Prior Trespass
Grants Pass Police evicted a woman from a city park last weekend after she failed to leave the last time she was trespassed. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 46-year-old Rachel Heather Riddle at Baker Park on Sunday afternoon. Police said they contacted Riddle regarding multiple park violations and quickly learned that she had been trespassed from the park on December 26th. She was placed into custody without incident. Rachel Riddle was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and her Baker Park exclusion was extended for another 30 days.
Posted on 1/16/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh
 

Josephine County Fair Board Holding Its First Meeting of 2024 This Evening
The Josephine County Fair Board will hold its first public meeting of 2024 while addressing mostly routine matters this evening. Following General Public Input when citizens are given three minutes to speak to the Fair Board, the panel will take care of Old Business including reports from the Auction Committee, Facilities Committee, Capital Improvement Committee and Friends of the Fairgrounds. Fairgrounds Director Tamra Martin's report will include a Grounds and Financial Update, and grant approval requests for an arena light switch addition and dirt for the outdoor arena. The 2024 Josephine County Fair is set for August 7th-11th. In other business, Fair Board applicants will be introduced and the panel will decide whether to hold a workshop in February. The next Fair Board meeting is scheduled for February 20th.
Posted on 1/16/24 6:00AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Snared Man Wanted for Hog Creek Arson Incident after Sunday PM Pursuit
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The Josephine County Sheriff's Office captured a man wanted in connection with a Hog Creek area arson incident following a high-speed pursuit in the Applegate and Williams valleys. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 32-year-old William Wayne Fox after he crashed a Mercury Sable on Cedar Flat Road on Sunday evening. Deputies said Fox was wanted for his role in the incident that occurred in the 4700-block of Galice Road on January 9th. They said he and his 19-year-old girlfriend torched a travel trailer, injured a dog and stabbed a tire on a vehicle before he fled into the woods and escaped law enforcement. His girlfriend was arrested. Fox was spotted by deputies in the 7200-block of Williams Highway on Sunday afternoon and two state troopers joined the pursuit, which reached speeds of more than 90 miles per hour on Highway 238 to Water Gap Road to Cedar Flat Road. That's where he crashed the car and was placed into custody at the point of a Taser. Fox was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Arson, 1st-Degree Burglary, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, Felony and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police, and Reckless Driving. He was being held without bail. A woman identified as 68-year-old Teresa Ann Mayo-Brown was arrested at the crash scene and jailed for Hindering Prosecution.
Posted on 1/16/24 5:58AM by Sam Marsh
 

Applications Being Accepted for Seat on GP Historic Buildings & Sites Commission
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Applications are being accepted for an open position on the Grants Pass Historical Buildings & Sites Commission. This position expires on December 7, 2026. This position is for a representative who is the owner of a business located within the Central Business District of the City of Grants Pass. The purpose of the Historical Buildings & Sites Commission (HBSC) is to review proposed alterations to any historic district or designated structure in the Grants Pass Urban Growth Boundary, to promote the community's historic preservation, to advise other interested agencies on matters related to historic preservation, and to identify areas of archaeological significance and buildings of such significance. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the City of Grants Pass. 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, February 2nd. Applications will be reviewed by the HBSC on Thursday, February 8th, and interviewed by the Grants Pass City Council on Monday, March 4th. The City Council will make the appointment at its regular meeting on March 6th.
Posted on 1/16/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Parks Crews Working Through Adverse Weather on Seasonal Maintenance Projects
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The Grants Pass Parks Division has been working through adverse weather conditions to prepare the parks for the winter and spring seasons. Last week, parks staff focused on horticulture care by pruning shrubs, detailing beds, installing freeze indicator signs on bridges and applying herbicides in between breaks in the rain. Fresh wood chips were added to tree wells at Riverside and Croxton Memorial parks. This organic material will help mitigate weed growth while adding beauty to the parks. Contractors were brought in to remove a fallen tree and two other trees with structural issues as well as to prune some dead branches staff members could not reach at Reinhart Volunteer Park. Staff revamped the restrooms at Morrison Centennial Park with a fresh coat of paint and upgraded energy-efficient LED light fixtures. The restroom at Riverside Park also received some maintenance with two rebuilt vandalized stall doors and replaced tiles. Construction has started for the installation of a Portland Loo restroom at Baker Park. Upon completion, the original bathroom will be demolished.
Posted on 1/16/24 5:55AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Snared Man Wanted for Hog Creek Arson Incident after Sunday Pursuit
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office captured a man wanted in connection with a Hog Creek area arson incident following a high-speed pursuit in the Applegate and Williams valleys. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 32-year-old William Wayne Fox after he crashed a Mercury Sable on Cedar Flat Road on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.. Deputies said Fox was wanted for his role in the incident that occurred in the 4700-block of Galice Road on January 9th. They said he and his 19-year-old girlfriend torched a travel trailer, injured a dog and stabbed a tire on a vehicle before he fled into the woods and escaped law enforcement. His girlfriend was arrested. Fox was spotted by deputies in the 7200-block of Williams Highway on Sunday afternoon and two state troopers joined the pursuit, which reached speeds of more than 90 miles per hour on Highway 238 to Water Gap Road to Cedar Flat Road. That's where he crashed the car and was placed into custody at the point of a Taser. Fox was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Arson, 1st-Degree Burglary, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, Felony and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police, and Reckless Driving. He was being held without bail. A woman identified as 68-year-old Teresa Ann Mayo-Brown was arrested at the crash scene and jailed for Hindering Prosecution. An aggressive, unaltered pit bull mix dog was removed from the vehicle and taken to the Josephine County Animal Shelter. The wrecked car was towed.
Posted on 1/15/24 10:21AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Man for DUII after Deputies Found Him Passed Out in Vehicle
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for impaired driving after Josephine County sheriff's deputies found him unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle at a busy intersection near the jail. The Police Department reports deputies found 52-year-old Johnnie Thomas Brown, Jr., passed out in a vehicle at the intersection of NE F Street and Beacon Drive on Saturday at about 12:20 a.m.. Police said an investigation determined that Brown had left a local bar after getting into a physical confrontation with a friend. They said he admitted to drinking alcohol and he displayed several indicators of impairment at the scene. According to the report, Brown refused to take part in field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a blood draw that documented his impairment. Johnnie Brown was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was being held without bail and his vehicle was towed to the impound yard.
Posted on 1/15/24 10:20AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Woman for Attempting to Steal Grange Co-op Merchandise
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for attempting to steal merchandise from Grange Co-op late last week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting call at the store on West Schutzwohl Lane near Redwood Highway on Friday around 10 a.m.. Police said 28-year-old Adrianna Kathleen Jacobsen selected under $100 worth of items from Grange Co-op, proceeded to pass all points of sale without paying and was detained by loss prevention. While in custody, she admitted to the crime. Jacobsen was charged with 3rd-Degree Theft and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The stolen merchandise was returned to Grange Co-op and she was trespassed from the business.
Posted on 1/15/24 10:18AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Man for Causing Weekend Complaints at Southgate Cinema
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing a weekend disturbance at the movie theater in the south part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint involving 71-year-old Russell Dewitt Coe at Southgate Cinema in the 1600-block of Ringuette Street on Friday around 8:15 p.m.. Police said Coe entered the theater, purchased a ticket for a movie sat down and made several comments which sparked concern among other patrons. The patrons complained to the theater manager and the manager called 9-1-1. Upon arrival, officers contacted Coe and discovered that he had a prior trespass warning at the theater from October 25th. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.
Posted on 1/15/24 10:17AM by Sam Marsh
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Multiple Agencies Responded to Redwood Highway Crash at Kerby-Mainline
Multiple agencies responded to a weekend motor vehicle accident in Kerby. On Saturday at 12:34 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police responded to the two-vehicle crash on Redwood Highway at Kerby Mainline Road. IVFD officials said no one was hurt, but the crash temporarily blocked one travel lane of US Highway 199. The Oregon Department of Transportation assisted with traffic control while the scene was active. Jerry's Towing removed the damaged vehicles and hauled them into Cave Junction. OSP was investigating the cause of the collision.
Posted on 1/15/24 10:14AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Police Apprehended State Fugitive and Found Him with Body Armor
Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant while performing a weekend patrol check in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers arrested 27-year-old Vinnie Dale Shuler in the 300-block of SE H Street near Catalyst Pizza on Saturday at 11:21 a.m.. Police said they were on patrol when they spotted Shuler whom they recognized from criminal incidents. They said they knew he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to an assault conviction, so they placed him into custody. During a consent search, Shuler was found to be in possession of a soft armor vest and a Josephine County Sheriff's Office uniform shirt. Both items were seized as evidence. Vinnie Shuler was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant as well as a new charge of Felon in Possession of Body Armor. He remained in custody on Sunday.
Posted on 1/15/24 6:27AM by Sam Marsh
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GP City Park Camper Revived from Overdose & Then Fought with Police Officers
A Grants Pass city park camper was revived from a near-lethal drug overdose late last week and she showed her gratitude by fighting with police officers. The Police Department reports officers and emergency personnel rushed to a drug overdose at Morrison Centennial Park on Friday at about 9:20 a.m.. Police said the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call reporting a female subject later identified as 34-year-old Marissa Elizabeth Winters had overdosed on drugs and CPR was in progress. They said Winters was administered Narcan four times before she starting breathing and coughing. She refused transport to the hospital. An investigation determined that Winters had remained unlawfully at the city park after she was trespassed on January 10th. Officers placed her into custody and she began actively using physical force to prevent her arrest. She attempted to spit on at least one officer before intentionally spitting and vomiting in the patrol vehicle. Winters was eventually subdued and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Aggravated Harassment, Resisting Arrest, 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail.
Posted on 1/15/24 6:26AM by Sam Marsh
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