Local News

GP City Council in Favor of General Sales Tax and Utility Fee for Public Safety Funding
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The Grants Pass City Council has elected new leadership for 2024, but it didn't come easy. Three attempts to break a 4-4 deadlock between Councilors Vanessa Ogier and Rick Ryker were unsuccessful, so Ogier was elected Council President and Ryker was elected Vice-President. Councilor DJ Faszer was nominated, but not elected. With Mayor Sara Bristol absent, Ogier then led Monday's bi-weekly workshop session where the main topic was once again public safety funding. During a marathon presentation followed by discussion, the Council voted 6-1 on a funding plan that includes a 1.5% general sales tax and a $12 hike to monthly utility bills. After mulling the supplemental funding options for public safety, the Council concluded that the general sales tax and utility fee was the best way to go because a food and beverage tax targets one specific industry. The general sales tax would spread the tax among all businesses -- with some exceptions -- and generate about $10 million per year, which would allow the addition of nine full-time employees in the next fiscal year -- seven of them in much-needed public safety positions. The general sales tax would be capped at 1.5%, which means it could not be increased without the consent of Grants Pass voters. The City Council plans to hold a February 15th public forum on the plan before officially adopting it at a future regular meeting, perhaps in early March.
Posted on 1/9/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
 

NWS Adds Localized Winter Weather Advisory to Current Winter Storm Warning for Region
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Snow down low in southwest Oregon has now become a distinct possibility. The National Weather Service has added a localized Winter Weather Advisory to the existing Winter Storm Warning. The Winter Storm Warning above 2,000 feet remains in effect while the Winter Weather Advisory runs from 10 o'clock tonight through 9 a.m. Wednesday. Heavy snow and blowing snow is expected above 2,000 feet in Josephine, Jackson, eastern Douglas and eastern Curry counties. Total accumulations of up to 12 inches is expected, with up to 24 inches possible over the highest terrain. Winds could gust up to 50 miles per hour. For the Winter Weather Advisory, snow is expected with accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and possibly up to 5 inches on or near the valley floor. The most likely time for this to occur will be tonight into Wednesday evening. Snow accumulations in the valleys will be tricky and much will depend on the intensity of precipitation. Affected roadways include portions of Interstate 5 from Ashland to Rogue River and between Grants Pass and Roseburg, Hayes Hill Summit, Jacksonville Hill, and highways 62, 140, 227, 234, 238 and 46 east of Cave Junction.
Posted on 1/9/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
 

Mount Ashland Announces Opening for 60th Anniversary Season is Thursday Morning
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The Mount Ashland Ski Area plans to open for the season on Thursday, weather permitting. The local ski area's 60th anniversary season will begin exactly 60 years to the day after its first-ever opening in 1964. On Monday, Mount Ashland Manager Andrew Gast reported the mountain had received 18 inches of snow in the past week, enabling crews to begin preparation work this past weekend. He said ski patrol and grooming teams are working on final preparations now and all lower mountain lifts are expected to be open by Thursday morning. On opening day, the ski area will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and plans to offer Beginner, Intermediate and Advance terrain. The forecast calls for between 9 and 18 inches of new snow over the next couple of days. Mount Ashland calls the first day of the season "Day Onesie" and guests who arrive wearing any one-piece style of clothing can win prizes. The first 60 guests in the lift lines will receive a commemorative 60th anniversary neck tube.
Posted on 1/9/24 6:11AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Jailed Man for Violating Court Order by Visiting Williams Family Home
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for violating a court order by visiting his parents' property in the Williams area over the weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 39-year-old William George Muir for the incident in the 900-block of Tetherow Road on Saturday around 10:30 a.m.. Deputies said a person from that address called 9-1-1 to report that their son "Billy" was back on the property and hiding in a shed despite a court order protecting them from him. They arrived on scene and placed him into custody. Muir was first arrested for violence against his family on July 19th of last year. He was arrested again on September 13th for Menacing and Criminal Mischief, and on October 5th and December 15th for Contempt of Court. On Friday, a neighbor reported that he stole a wedding ring from her house. William "Billy" Muir was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 1/8/24 11:05AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Arrested Motorist for Old & New Weapons Crimes after Highway 199 Stop
The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for old and new weapons crimes following a weekend traffic stop on Redwood Highway west of Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Ford CVC driven by 39-year-old David Scott Anderson near milepost 6 of US Highway 199 on Friday at 10:30 p.m.. Troopers said they contacted Anderson and discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. They said a search of his vehicle located a knife, which he is prohibited from having due to his status as a local felon. The knife was seized as evidence. David Anderson was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant along with a new charge of Felon in Possession of a Weapon. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 1/8/24 11:04AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Man for Multiple Crimes after Trying to Steal from Walmart
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for multiple crimes after he and his wife allegedly teamed up to steal merchandise from Walmart over the weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the big box retailer on NE Terry Lane on Saturday at about 9:40 a.m.. Police said 36-year-old Matthew Christopher Crandall and Autumn Crandall went to Walmart where Matthew used the mobile app to scan an item and then select a more expensive or larger item with a higher cost. They said the suspect used his cellphone for the transaction and scanning, paying $101.28 for items valued at $177.21. The crime was captured on surveillance video prior to the 9-1-1 call. Upon arrival, officers placed Matthew Crandall into custody and discovered he was open-carrying a firearm that he was prohibited from having due to a past domestic violence conviction. The gun was seized as evidence. Matthew Crandall was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Computer Crime, Carrying a Concealed Weapon and 3rd-Degree Theft. A charge of Petty Theft against his wife was referred to the District Attorney's Office because she was assisting him with selecting items at the store.
Posted on 1/8/24 11:03AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Police Arrested Man for Stealing Merchandise from Home Depot
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing merchandise from the Home Depot store. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a shoplifting call from the store on NE Mill Street on Saturday around 5 p.m.. Police said 33-year-old Jesse Russell Jones selected $264 worth of merchandise and passed all points of sale, intentionally depriving Home Depot of its property. He walked through the parking lot and exited near the Mill Street Car Wash where he was tracked down and placed into custody. The stolen property was recovered. Jesse Jones was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and he was being held without bail. A message about his criminal activity was left with his corrections officer.
Posted on 1/8/24 11:01AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Man Injured after Crashing Vehicle on Williams Highway South of Murphy
A Grants Pass man was injured after he crashed his vehicle on Williams Highway near Murphy. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 7 of Highway 238 on Saturday at 7:22 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicated that 25-year-old Mikal Glenn Spriggle was driving a Toyota Prius when he lost control of the car, spun and ended up in the ditch. According to OSP, Spriggle was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of a minor injury. His damaged car was hauled into Grants Pass by Three Boys Towing.
Posted on 1/8/24 11:00AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Nabbed RR Man for Drugged Driving after Traffic Stop in Downtown GP
The Oregon State Police arrested a Rogue River man for drugged driving after a traffic stop in downtown Grants Pass late last week. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Honda Accord driven by 67-year-old Thomas Richard Carlson near the corner of SW 6th and I street on Friday around 11:30 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped Carlson for traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. After performing poorly in field sobriety test, he was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was not consistent with the level of impairment observed during testing. A drug recognition specialist was called in to perform a secondary evaluation and Carlson was subsequently taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented his impairment by marijuana and an unidentified controlled substance. Thomas Carlson was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis and Controlled Substances. He was cited to appear in court and released. His car was parked and secured at his request.
Posted on 1/8/24 10:57AM by Sam Marsh
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Cave Junction Mayor Set to Give State of City Address to Open Council Meeting
Cave Junction Mayor Meadow Martell will give a State of the City Address to open tonight's City Council meeting. The mayor's annual start-of-the-year address will be followed by an update from the Cave Junction Public Works Department. The Consent Agenda is next including minutes of previous meetings and planning updates. A public comment period follows. The lone action item for tonight's meeting is an ordinance to update requirements for signage in Cave Junction. The Council may approve the second reading and adopt Ordinance 602. Tonight's meeting concludes with comments from the City Recorder and City Council members. It begins at 7 at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.
Posted on 1/8/24 9:12AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Felon for Warrants & Weapon Crimes after Apartment Complaint
Grants Pass Police jailed a man on statewide and local felony warrants as well as for weapons crimes after he was caught looking into vehicles at a northeast-city apartment complex. The Police Department reports officers arrested 44-year-old Eric Wayne Beck at Taser point in the 1800-block of NE Fairview Avenue on Friday around 8 p.m.. Police said at least one resident of the Fairview apartments reported a male subject on a bicycle kept coming onto the property and looking inside parked vehicles. The caller believed the man's behavior was suspicious, so they called 9-1-1. Responding officers detained Beck and found him to be in possession of a set of brass knuckles and a knife. They also discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a burglary conviction along with a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to domestic assault. Eric Beck was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrants plus two counts of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. Police checked the complex and found no evidence of vehicle break-ins.
Posted on 1/8/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Young Motorist for DUII Saturday after He Wrecked into Pole
Grants Pass Police arrested a young motorist for impaired driving after he wrecked a vehicle into a metal pole in a northeast neighborhood last weekend. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle crash in the 700-block of NE 8th Street on Saturday at about 4 a.m.. Police said an investigation determined that 18-year-old Vincent Paul Hagenbuch was driving a Ford Fusion when he lost control of the car, went up on a curb and collided with a pole. They said the driver was not injured, but the car sustained heavy front-end damage from hitting the pole, which was knocked over. Hagenbuch reportedly displayed "indicators of impairment to a noticeable and perceptible degree." He performed poorly in field sobriety tests at the scene and at the Josephine County Jail, where he was lodged for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. The damaged car was impounded. City street crews were notified about the damaged pole, but a nearby utility pole was not damaged.
Posted on 1/8/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
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