Local News

Josephine County Foundation Hosting Free Vision Clinic on Saturday at North Valley High
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The Josephine County Foundation is teaming up with Amigo Vision to present a Free Vision Clinic this weekend at North Valley High School. The Free Vision Clinic is set for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the high school located at 6741 Monument Drive near Grants Pass. Josephine County Foundation (JCF) is a student-led non-profit that inspires, engages and strengthens the community through innovative leadership and service. The goal of this clinic is to serve those who cannot afford vision care. An appointment for the free clinic is required. To schedule your appointment, visit the Josephine County Foundation website at "jcfserves.org/jcyf/current-projects/vision-clinic." For more information, please call Andrea Bennett at (541)-450-8782.
Posted on 1/11/24 5:54AM by Sam Marsh
 

BCC Hears from Pipe Fork Supporters and Appoints Trio to Advisory Panels
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners heard from Pipe Fork supporters, made appointments to three local advisory committees and addressed the problem of local drug overdoses during its weekly business session today. With no public hearings or action items on the agenda, Board Chair John West started the 66-minute meeting with Requests and Comments from Citizens. At least a dozen people spoke of their support for the sale of the Pipe Fork timber property near Williams, with some of the speakers chastising the Commissioners for not agreeing to an immediate sale. The speakers included the Williams Rural Fire Protection District Chief, who pointed out that the sale would benefit his community by helping to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board unanimously approved appointments of Jamee Harrington to a four-year term on the Special Transportation Committee, Justin Lyons to a four-year term on the Housing & Community Development Council and Todd Greer to a three-year term on the Collaborative Economic Development Committee. Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger talked about the alarming increase in local drug overdoses and the ineffectiveness of Measure 110. He cited City of Grants Pass statistics that show 22 responses to overdoses and 11 deaths in 2022 grew to 197 responses to overdoses and 15 deaths in 2023. He said statistics for Josephine County were unavailable because they had not been released by the state.
Posted on 1/10/24 11:51AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Jailed One Person & Looking for Another after Hog Creek Area Call
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed one person and were looking for another in connection with a vandalism incident near Hog Creek Boat Landing. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 19-year-old Victoria Reanna Corona for the incident in the 4700-block of Galice Road on Tuesday at 4:17 p.m.. Deputies said they received a call from a resident reporting two people torched her travel trailer, injured her dog and stabbed a tire on her vehicle. She identified the suspects as Corona and her boyfriend, William Foxx. Foxx was reportedly armed with a large knife when he eluded law enforcement by running into the woods. Corona was located inside a vehicle driven by a woman named "Brown" and she was placed into custody. She was transported to Grants Pass and lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Burglary and 3rd-Degree Theft. A search for Foxx in the Hog Creek area was unsuccessful. Charges of 1st-Degree Arson, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Burglary, Menacing and Escape against him were referred to the District Attorney's Office for eventual prosecution. Brown was cited for Failure to Register a Vehicle.
Posted on 1/10/24 11:49AM by Sam Marsh
 

Grants Pass Police Arrested Siblings on Outstanding Warrants near City Park
Grants Pass Police arrested a man and his older sister on outstanding warrants last night during an investigation near Westholm Park. The Police Department reports officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on 34-year-old Kyle Daniel Miller in the 200-block of SW Wildwood Drive on Tuesday around 8:45 p.m.. He was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Heroin Possession. Police said neighbors confirmed that Miller lives at the residence, so they tried to contact him there. He immediately shut the door and refused to identify himself, retreating into the back part of the house. His sister -- 37-year-old Bobby Rae Miller -- came out of the home and said she was trying to get him to surrender. Turns out that Bobby Miller was wanted on a Multnomah County felony warrant for Fraud, Abuse and Computer Crime as well as a Washington County warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Theft and Supplying Contraband. She was placed into custody and lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail. Kyle Miller was eventually placed into custody and lodged in jail on his warrant.
Posted on 1/10/24 11:48AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Felon Snared for Parole Violation while Returning Stolen Items to Victim
A Grants Pass felon was arrested for violating his post-prison supervision early yesterday after he attempted to return stolen property to the victim of a recent burglary. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 30-year-old Dominick Jeffrey Aragon at a mini-storage business on NW Booth Street on Tuesday around 7:45 a.m.. Police said Aragon was a suspect in a burglary that occurred Monday at a home in the 4300-block of Foothill Boulevard. They said the victim reported that he texted her, told her the stolen items were at Booth Street Mini Storage and that he would meet her there at 7 a.m. when he would return the items. With that knowledge, officers were able to stop Aragon and discover that he was driving with a suspended license. His corrections officer was contacted and asked that his client be detained. Aragon was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer and additional charges are pending further investigation, A charge of Driving While Suspended was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.
Posted on 1/10/24 11:46AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Motorist for Hitting Parked Vehicle and Fleeing on Foot
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for hitting a parked vehicle and then fleeing the scene on foot early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a hit-and-run crash in the 700-block of NE 6th Street on Tuesday at about 9:35 a.m.. Police said 31-year-old Jeremiah Rigoberto Mossman was driving a pickup south on 6th Street when he crashed into a parked vehicle and then left the scene of the wreck without making any attempt to contact the victim or law enforcement. Total damage to both vehicles was estimated to be well over $2,500. Mossman reportedly left his pickup at the scene and tried to run away, but he was located near the corner of NE A and Baker streets near Grants Pass High School. Jeremiah Mossman was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. No indicators of impairment were observed, but his Dodge Dakota was impounded. The victim's vehicle was towed.
Posted on 1/10/24 11:44AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Motorist Cited for Crashing into Parked Vehicle on A Street near GPHS
A Grants Pass motorist was cited for colliding with an unoccupied vehicle near the high school early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the two-vehicle crash in the 800-block of NE A Street on Tuesday around 8:20 a.m.. Police said a female adult they identified only as "Hoover" told them she was driving her vehicle at 15 miles per hour when she became distracted and rear-ended a parked vehicle, causing significant damage to both. She admitted to driving away, but stopping at a nearby location on Baker Street just off A. Following an investigation, Hoover was cited for Careless Driving. She was also warned for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, Distracted Driving and Failure to Install an Ignition Interlock System on her vehicle. Both vehicles were towed.
Posted on 1/10/24 11:42AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Evicted 9 Campers from Riverside Park for Ordinance Violations
Grants Pass Police evicted a total of nine campers from Riverside Park during a single patrol check performed early yesterday. The Police Department reports all nine were cited for various city ordinance violations and all nine were trespassed from the park for 30 days. Shawn Gee, Russell Thompson, Demetrius Hughes, William Stroh, Dawn Schmidt, David Wilson, Jeremy Nordstrom and Samantha Crutcher were cited for failing to remove their previously posted campsites west of Caveman Bridge. Gee, Wilson and Nordstrom were also cited for Scattering Rubbish as was Donnie Snow. Stroh and Schmidt were also cited for Misuse of Park Open Spaces. Officers said two tents containing drug paraphernalia were seized for disposal.
Posted on 1/10/24 11:40AM by Sam Marsh
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Sheriff Seeks Public Assistance in Finding Woman Reported Missing by Family
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The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking public help in locating a woman who has been reported missing by her family. The Sheriff's Office on Tuesday afternoon issued a bulletin requesting assistance in finding 33-year-old Paige Leighton. Leighton was last contacted by her family members on December 1st. She was homeless in the Merlin area prior to being reported missing. She is believed to be either in the Southern Oregon or San Francisco area. Leighton is described as a white female, 5-feet-6-inches tall and 190 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She has been known to dye her hair blonde. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Paige Leighton is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.
Posted on 1/10/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Man Jailed for Committing Domestic Violence against Wife in Front of Kids
A Grants Pass man was jailed for allegedly committing domestic violence against his estranged wife last weekend. The Police Department reports 30-year-old Brandon Alexander Fields was arrested for the incident that occurred at a home on SW Susan Lane on Monday afternoon. Police said Fields' wife came to the GPPD station Monday to report the incident that allegedly occurred on Sunday night. They said the husband and wife -- who are separated but still married -- became engaged in a verbal altercation. According to the report, Brandon Fields pushed his wife to the ground, got on top of her, covered her mouth and held her neck. The suspect impeded the victim's breathing and blood circulation to the point where the victim felt herself going into unconsciousness. The incident halted when one of the couple's children came out of their room to investigate what was happening. Three children were present. Fields reportedly apologized to his wife while being placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Domestic Strangulation and he was being held without bail.
Posted on 1/10/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Felon for Weapons Crime after He Attempted Heist at Walmart
Grants Pass Police jailed a convicted felon for a weapons crime after he tried to steal merchandise from Walmart this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 43-year-old Donn Reeves Fincher for the incident at the store on NE Terry Lane late Monday morning. Police said Fincher entered Walmart, selected over $300 in camping gear and left the store without paying. They said he was located a short time later at the nearby Arco AM/PM store and placed into custody. Fincher was found to be in possession of a spring-assisted folding knife, which is prohibited because he is a convicted felon. It was seized as evidence and the stolen camping gear was returned to Walmart. Donn Fincher was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, 2nd-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 1/10/24 6:39AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Eugene Woman for Trespassing & Throwing Guitar into Pool
Grants Pass Police arrested a Eugene woman for trespassing at her ex-boyfriend's home and throwing his guitar into a swimming pool. The Police Department reports officers responded to a trespassing call involving 38-year-old Sarah Elizabeth Beck in the 2200-block of Cloverlawn Drive early Tuesday morning. Police said Beck returned to the location after previously being trespassed. She advised she was invited by her ex-boyfriend, which would be a violation of his probation. They said the man was not completely honest about when he has or has not been contacting Beck, but he denied inviting her over. Beck was arrested and charged with 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief for throwing the man's guitar into a pool. She was cited and released, but escorted to Interstate 5 for the return trip to Eugene. The ex-boyfriend -- identified by police as "Samuel Kempton" -- was told to check in with his corrections officer regarding the incident.
Posted on 1/10/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh
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