Local News

GP Man Jailed for Allegedly Subjecting His Wife to Offensive Physical Contact
A Grants Pass man was jailed for allegedly subjecting his wife to offensive physical contact at a home in the downtown area this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the 400-block of SW I Street on Tuesday morning. Police said the wife of 44-year-old Kristoffer Ryan Schattschneider call 9-1-1 to report that her husband threw water on her while she was sleeping in bed, had argued with her that morning and she was afraid he was going to hurt her. The victim stated he had been physical with her in the past and she was frightened. Upon arrival, officers interviewed both parties as well as the suspect's 22-year-old son before placing the suspect into custody. Kristoffer Schattschneider was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Harassment and he was being held without bail.
Posted on 1/4/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh
 

No One Hurt When Vehicle Hit Tree off Redwood Highway near Wild Park Lane
Emergency agencies responded to a motor vehicle accident on Redwood Highway near Selma early yesterday. On Wednesday at 6:45 a.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon State Police were dispatched to a report of a vehicle into a tree off US Highway 199 just north of Wild Park Lane. Few details were available about the wreck, but IVFD officials said there were no injuries. Redwood Highway traffic was slowed in the area while the scene was active. Officials said OSP was handling the investigation into the cause of the crash.
Posted on 1/4/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh
 

Two Jackson County Deputies Retired on Same Day after 25 Years of Service
Two Jackson County sheriff's deputies recently retired on the same day after 25 years of dedicated service to the community. During a late-December ceremony, Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler presented Deputy Eric Johnson and Deputy Mike Hermant with a shadow box made by Records Manager Walt Haussner. Deputies Johnson and Hermant also completed their final sign-off with Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon 9-1-1 Dispatch. Both Johnson and Hermant started their careers with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office on May 7, 1998. Both went on to work in Corrections, Patrol and the SWAT Team. Johnson worked for many years as the Bureau of Land Management deputy, patrolling deep in the Jackson County wilderness. Hermant was an Emergency Vehicle Operator Course instructor and he was most recently assigned as a Community Oriented Policing deputy. Thank you to Deputies Eric Johnson and Mike Hermant for 25 years of service to the Jackson County community!
Posted on 1/4/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
 

John West Elected as Chair of Josephine County Board of Commissioners for 2024
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The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will be led by John West in 2024. West was named Board Chair yesterday after the Commissioners voted 2-1 to have him succeed Herman Baertschiger. West nominated himself for the post. Dan DeYoung also nominated himself as Chair, but he was defeated by his colleagues. Baertschiger was then unanimously voted in as Vice-Chair for 2024. DeYoung started the meeting with a point of order, stating that the County Charter calls for the Commissioners to select Chair and Vice-Chair during the first session of each year. It had not been included in the meeting agenda. In the only action item of the meeting, the Board unanimously approved a grant agreement between the Josephine County District Attorney's Office and State of Oregon. The VOCA/CFA grant will pay for additional staffing in the DA's Office to administer the Victims' Assistance Program.
Posted on 1/4/24 5:59AM by Sam Marsh
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Josephine County Assessor's Office Offering Online Filing for Personal Property Taxes
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Josephine County is making it easier for local merchants to file their annual Business Personal Property Tax returns. Starting this month, the Josephine County Assessor's Office will offer online filing through Smartfile, an integrated solution of Tyler Technologies, Inc.. Business owners and operators received a notice about the move to online filing with their personal property tax statements in October. Businesses will be receiving confidential filing letters containing personal identification numbers in the coming days. Newly sworn-in Assessor Chris Parton said Smartfile will reduce time and money businesses spend filing their annual returns and reduce the department's processing time, which will result in improved customer service and efficiency. For more information and to file online, visit "josephinecounty.gov/smartfile." Those with questions or concerns can call the Assessor's Office at (541)-474-5260.
Posted on 1/4/24 5:49AM by Sam Marsh
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Rogue Community College & TRIO Program Hosting Oregon Transfer Days This Month
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For students considering transferring to a four-year university, Rogue Community College and TRIO are hosting Oregon Transfer Days this month in Medford and Grants Pass. The college transfer fairs will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on January 25th at the Riverside Campus Higher Education Center and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on January 26th at the Redwood Campus Student Center. RCC and TRIO officials said it's an important event for university-bound students. There will be several colleges and universities in attendance to answer questions and provide guidance regarding their transfer processes. Guests will have the chance to meet recruiters and talk about various options and available resources. TRIO programs help low-income individuals, first-generation college students, veterans and people with disabilities. For more information about Oregon Transfer Days, contact Pam Green at "pgreen@roguecc.edu."
Posted on 1/4/24 5:39AM by Sam Marsh
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John West Elected to Lead Josephine County Board of Commissioners in 2024
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will be led by John West in 2024. West was named Board Chair today after the Commissioners voted 2-1 to have him succeed Herman Baertschiger. West nominated himself for the post. Dan DeYoung also nominated himself as Chair, but he was defeated by his colleagues. Baertschiger was then unanimously voted in as Vice-Chair for 2024. DeYoung started the meeting with a point of order, stating that the County Charter calls for the Commissioners to select Chair and Vice-Chair during the first session of each year. It had not been included in the meeting agenda. In the only action item of the meeting, the Board unanimously approved a grant agreement between the Josephine County District Attorney's Office and State of Oregon. The VOCA/CFA grant will pay for additional staffing in the DA's Office to administer the Victims' Assistance Program. The Commissioners also unanimously approved the Consent Calendar, which contained minutes from weekly business sessions and legal counsel updates as well as the selection of Dwayne Yunker to succeed Lily Morgan as District 3 State Representative. Morgan recently resigned to become City Manager of Gold Hill. During Requests and Comments from Citizens, the Board heard from several people testifying in support of the Pipe Fork property sale near Williams and one person spoke about gun legislation.
Posted on 1/3/24 11:45AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Jailed GP Felon for Parole Violation and More after Jerome Prairie Pursuit
The Oregon State Police jailed a Grants Pass man for violating his post-prison supervision and several other crimes after he led troopers on a short pursuit while driving impaired late last night. OSP reports troopers attempted to stop a GMC Sierra driven by 39-year-old Mark Alan Grater on Jerome Prairie Road near Stringer Gap Road on Tuesday shortly after 11 p.m.. Troopers said they tried to stop Grater for traffic violation, but he refused to yield for about half-a-mile before parking at a residence in the 2600-block of Demaray Drive. They said he was initially hostile and failed to obey commands. He was placed into custody after displaying several signs of impairment. According to OSP, Grater had a long-barreled hunting rifle in plain sight in the back of the pickup. A records check revealed that he was a convicted felon who had absconded on his parole and had a felony warrant for his arrest. Ammunition and restricted weapons were found on his person and in his truck. Grater was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented his impairment. He was then lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts each of Felon in Possession of a Weapon and Reckless Driving plus single counts of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Felony Parole Violation. Mark Grater was being held on a no-bail detainer. His pickup and a dog were left in the custody of a family member at the Demaray Drive residence.
Posted on 1/3/24 11:44AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Man Jailed for Allegedly Subjecting His Wife to Offensive Physical Contact
A Grants Pass man was jailed early yesterday for allegedly subjecting his wife to offensive physical contact at a home in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the 400-block of SW I Street on Tuesday at 9:35 a.m.. Police said the wife of 44-year-old Kristoffer Ryan Schattschneider call 9-1-1 to report that her husband threw water on her while she was sleeping in bed, had argued with her that morning and she was afraid he was going to hurt her. The victim stated he had been physical with her in the past and she was frightened. Upon arrival, officers interviewed both parties as well as the suspect's 22-year-old son before placing the suspect into custody. Kristoffer Schattschneider was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Harassment and he was being held without bail.
Posted on 1/3/24 11:42AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Nabbed California Fugitive after Responding to Downtown Complaint
Grants Pass Police apprehended an out-of-state fugitive last night during a welfare check in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers contacted the female driver of a suspicious vehicle parked next to Ma Mosa's restaurant off NW E Street at 9:50 p.m. Tuesday. Police said a person who lives above the restaurant requested a welfare check on the occupants of a four-door sedan who were making "rapid movements." Officers contacted three people including the driver -- 37-year-old Lillan Ruth Stohlman. A routine records check revealed that Stohlman was wanted on a Solano County, California, felony warrant for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. She was placed into custody when the Sheriff's Office in Fairfield confirmed the extraditable warrant. Lillian Stohlman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and was being held without bail pending the extradition process. Her vehicle was left at the scene for her mother to pick up.
Posted on 1/3/24 11:41AM by Sam Marsh
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Early Morning Parking Complaint in NE GP Led to Apprehension of 2 Fugitives
An early morning parking complaint in the northeast part of Grants Pass led to the apprehension of two out-of-county fugitives yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a reported ordinance violation in the 1400-block of NE Heritage Drive on Tuesday shortly after 6 a.m.. Police said a resident called 9-1-1 to report a green sport utility vehicle parked on a yellow curb in front of their house. The caller was upset and said the SUV with two occupants had been parked in the residential area since Monday night. Responding officers contacted the occupants who were identified as 38-year-old Kirby Boone Hamilton and 25-year-old Melissa Lee Rouska. It was determined that both were wanted on Lane County felony warrants for Probation Violation. Hamilton and Rouska were lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. They were being held pending transfer to the Lane County Jail in Eugene. Their vehicle -- which had no insurance coverage -- was moved and secured in a nearby parking lot.
Posted on 1/3/24 11:40AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Trio for Warrants & Violations during City Park Patrol Checks
Grants Pass Police arrested three people for outstanding warrants and other violations during city park patrol checks yesterday. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred on Tuesday morning when officers contacted 33-year-old Samantha Jean Brown at Baker Park. Brown was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Attempting to Elude Police. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. She was also trespassed from the park for 30 days. The second incident happened around midday Tuesday when officers contacted 46-year-old Rose Marie McLaughlin at Gilbert Creek Park. McLaughlin had returned to the park after being excluded on December 28th. She was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and the resulting Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. The third incident took place on Tuesday afternoon when officers contacted 30-year-old Dennis Alan Knight, Jr., at Tussing Park. Knight was wanted on two Medford felony warrants for failing to appear in court for Assault on a Police Officer and Probation Violation related to Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. He was lodged in jail on the warrants pending transfer to the Jackson County Jail.
Posted on 1/3/24 11:38AM by Sam Marsh
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