Local News

IVFD Units Responded Friday to First Structure Fire of 2024 on Krauss Lane
The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to its first structure fire of 2024 early yesterday. On Friday at 7:09 a.m., IVFD, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported barn on fire in the 100-block of Krauss Lane. Upon arrival, officials said crews encountered an issue with a blocked driveway. However, they were able to make entry by stretching out a hose line to extinguish the burning barn. There were no injuries reported to humans or animals. IVFD Chief John Holmes said the fire was overhauled and crews will come back for re-inspections to ensure no fire is present. The cause was under investigation. Holmes said the Rural Metro engine was cancelled and it covered the district while the scene was active.
Posted on 1/6/24 6:01AM by Sam Marsh
 

Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation to Meet Tuesday Morning
The Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation (RVACT) will meet virtually next Tuesday morning. The 9 a.m. meeting is open to the public and time will be set aside for input. RVACT meetings are held to discuss state transportation projects and issues in Jackson and Josephine counties. Tuesday's agenda includes an Intercity Network presentation, ACT work plan discussion for future meetings, advisory committee guidance training, a Connect Oregon presentation, construction project updates and regional updates. Accommodations will be provided to persons with disabilities and alternate forms of printed materials are available upon request. Please call the statewide relay at 7-1-1 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Posted on 1/6/24 5:58AM by Sam Marsh
 

Jackson County Sheriff's Office Adds Officer & Dog to Local K-9 Unit in 2024
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office welcomes a new K-9 officer to its ranks in 2024. K-9 Sjeffie (Sheffie) is a 2-1/2-year-old male Dutch Shepherd who recently graduated from a five-week training along with his handler, Deputy Ridout. Deputy Ridout reported K-9 Sjeffie is very smart and learns quickly. The dog did very well in handler school which included daily physical training, canine care, tracking, building searches, obedience, legal parameters and case law, and apprehension training. At the end of handler school, Deputy Ridout and Sjeffie passed the Oregon Police Canine Association (OPCA) standardized certification. Ridout said his long-term goal was becoming a K-9 Handler during his six years in law enforcement. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit now has four full-time patrol teams, ensuring 24/7 coverage for the community. All four patrol dogs come from the same local breeders and trainers -- Dutch Canine and Emma Delacruz.
Posted on 1/6/24 5:56AM by Sam Marsh
 

Authorities Collared Level 3 Sex Offender for Attempting Contact with Teen Girl
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Authorities have arrested a Level 3 Sex Offender for writing a letter to a teenage girl. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday received a report that 44-year-old Uriah Shawn Strauss of Roseburg sent a letter to a juvenile at a local high school, which outlined his desire to strike up a romantic relationship with a teenage female student. Strauss was located at the Roseburg Rescue Mission where he was interviewed and taken into custody for Attempted Unlawful Contact with a Child. He was lodged at the Douglas County Jail. The Sheriff's Office previously notified citizens in southwest Oregon that Strauss was sending letters that were filled with sexually explicit content, causing alarm and apprehension regarding personal safety to various women across the region. Lieutenant Brad O'Dell said the agency is renewing its request to anyone who has received a similar letter from Strauss -- especially anyone under the age of 18 -- to contact the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at (541)-440-4450. O'Dell said they believe Strauss has likely attempted contact with other juveniles. He said it is important that they hear from anyone who Strauss has contacted or attempted to contact.
Posted on 1/6/24 5:50AM by Sam Marsh
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Winter Storm Warning in Effect for SW Oregon and NW California Until Late Tonight
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Travel in the upper elevations of southwest Oregon and northwest California could be dangerous today. The National Weather Service has posted a Winter Storm Warning above 2,500 feet that runs until 10 o'clock tonight. Snow is expected above 2,500 feet, with total accumulations of five to 10 inches and winds gusting as high as 35 miles per hour. Affected areas include the foothills of the Cascade and Siskiyou mountains, and the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Affected roadways include portions of Interstate 5 along with Highways 62, 140, 199 and 227. Travel could be very difficult with snow-covered roadways and reduced visibility. Travel is strongly discouraged during the warning period because of dangerous driving conditions. However, if you must travel, keep tire chains, a flashlight, blankets, food, water, medications and a fully-charged phone with you. A Winter Storm Warning means that severe winter weather is likely and poses a threat to life and property. The safest place during a winter storm is indoors. For updated road conditions, visit "tripcheck.com."
Posted on 1/6/24 5:48AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Economic Development Presents at Soroptimist International Gathering
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The Grants Pass Economic Development Department presented this week at the monthly meeting of Soroptimist International of River Valley. Soroptimist International is a civic organization of multi-generational women who develop community service programs and provide educational scholarships. Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic said the presentation provided information on city goals and how they relate to economic development. Members inquired about filling empty storefronts in the downtown area and continuation of citywide events such as 4th of July, Art Along the Rogue and the Tree Lighting Ceremony. Meanwhile, Grants Pass staff members visited several potential locations for a temporary Downtown Welcome Center this week. The building at the corner of 6th and G streets will be under construction for remodeling beginning in February.
Posted on 1/6/24 5:45AM by Sam Marsh
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GPPD Assisted RADE in Apprehension of Man Wanted on Statewide Warrant
The Grants Pass Police Department assisted Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) with the apprehension of a statewide fugitive yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 53-year-old Mario Derk Burton at Cleanlife Laundry in the 1700-block of Redwood Avenue at about 4 p.m. Thursday. Police said a RADE detective spotted Burton at the laundromat and knew that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a 2019 conviction for Felony Assault. After the suspect was positively identified by officers, he was placed into custody without incident. Mario Burton was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant.
Posted on 1/5/24 11:03AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Police Corralled Statewide Fugitive at Local Corrections Office
Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant after he checked in with his parole officer yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 53-year-old Shjon Mikel Johnson at the Josephine County Community Corrections Office on NW 4th Street at 3:40 p.m. Thursday. Police said an employee of the local corrections office called 9-1-1 to report that Johnson was there and he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. The caller said the suspect was waiting in the lobby and he was unaware he was about to be arrested. Responding officers placed Johnson into custody without incident. He told police he did not why there was an active warrant for his arrest. He was told that he had violated terms of his post-prison supervision. Shjon Johnson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 1/5/24 11:00AM by Sam Marsh
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Corrections Client Arrested for Using Fake Urine to Cheat on Drug Testing
A Josephine County Community Corrections client was arrested yesterday for trying to cheat on his mandatory drug testing. Grants Pass Police were alerted to the incident involving 40-year-old Kenneth Fuqua on Thursday at 4:45 p.m.. Police said Fuqua is assigned to a work crew as part of his probation status. After he was observed acting in a strange manner, he was requested by supervisors to report to the Corrections Office to provide a urine sample. According to the report, Fuqua was acting suspiciously during the test and he requested privacy as he could not "go" with someone present. A short time later, he was observed throwing away a liquid that was identified as fake urine that he used to cheat on the test. Fuqua admitted to using heroin the night before and to using the fake urine because he did not want to go to jail. He was charged with Falsifying Drug Test Results and lodged at the adult jail facility without bail.
Posted on 1/5/24 10:58AM by Sam Marsh
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Police Nabbed Well-Known Duo for Violations after RR Highway Traffic Stop
Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known couple for warrant and moving violations during a traffic stop on Rogue River Highway late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a vehicle driven by 51-year-old Joelle Kathleen Dewitt and occupied by 58-year-old Gregory Albert Metzger in the 900-block of Highway 99 on Thursday around 5:40 p.m.. Police said they observed Dewitt driving and knew her license had been suspended at the criminal level. After stopping the vehicle, they were aware that Metzger was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for Menacing and 2nd-Degree Theft. Both were placed into custody at the scene of the stop. Gregory Metzger and Joelle Dewitt were lodged at the Josephine County Jail. A friend picked up the vehicle with their pet cat inside.
Posted on 1/5/24 10:56AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Cited Two CJ Residents during Redwood Highway Stop near Wilderville
The Oregon State Police arrested two Cave Junction residents during a traffic stop on Redwood Highway near Wilderville last night. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Chevrolet sedan driven by 44-year-old Crystal Anna Partain at milepost 8 of US Highway 199 on Thursday at 9:52 p.m.. Police said they stopped Partain for a traffic violation and discovered that her passenger -- 43-year-old Daren Alan McCollum -- had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. According to OSP, Partain was cited for the unspecified traffic violation and McCollum was cited on the warrant. Both were released from custody.
Posted on 1/5/24 10:55AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Evicted Campers & Removed Truckloads of Trash from City Park
Grants Pass Police evicted two campers for ordinance violations and removed a large amount of trash from Riverside Park during a patrol check early yesterday. The Police Department reports Mark Lyon and Ann Warfield were cited for Illegal Camping after they failed to remove their previously posted campsites. Clint Palomino was cited for Misuse of Park Open Space and Scattering Rubbish. Lyon and Palomino were trespassed from Riverside Park for 30 days. Officers said they posted a total of 28 campsites for Illegal Camping in the park on the west side of Caveman Bridge. They said six truckloads of garbage, soiled tents and drug paraphernalia were removed from the park and disposed of at Southern Oregon Sanitation.
Posted on 1/5/24 10:50AM by Sam Marsh
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