Local News

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
 

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
 

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
 

New Year's Day Vandalism Incident Results in 2 Charges for Grants Pass Man
A New Year's Eve residency dispute spilled over into New Year's Day with the arrest of a Grants Pass man for vandalism. Grants Pass Police responded to a disturbance near the corner of SE Rogue Drive and N Street on Monday morning. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report that 20-year-old Max Michael David Darcy threw multiple rocks into the driver-side door and window of his vehicle, causing light damage. The caller said the incident followed a Sunday night assault at a home in the 1400-block of SE N Street and he was following the suspect. Officers arrived on scene and contacted an intoxicated Darcy who admitted to throwing rocks at the vehicle. He was placed into custody without incident. Max Darcy was charged with 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Minor in Possession of Alcohol. The Josephine County Jail was only lodging mandatory arrests at the time, so he was cited to appear in court and then released.
Posted on 1/3/24 11:37AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Collars California Fugitive in New Year's Day Traffic Stop in Downtown GP
The Oregon State Police captured an out-of-state fugitive during a New Year's Day traffic stop in downtown Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Chevrolet C-250 pickup driven by 35-year-old Kailene Elise Nastiuk near the corner of SE 6th and M streets on Monday at 12:17 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped Nastiuk for a traffic violation and quickly discovered that she was wanted on a California fugitive warrant. Contents of the warrant were not disclosed, but she was placed into custody without incident. Kailene Nastiuk was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and was being held pending extradition proceedings that will likely send her back to California. Her pickup was towed.
Posted on 1/3/24 6:26AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Police Snared Man for Rude Behavior with Staff at Quality Inn Motel
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for being rude with staff members at a north-city motel on New Year's Day. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a complaint at the Quality Inn on NE 6th Street on Monday evening. Police said 37-year-old David Wade Howard was a registered guest at the motel and he started yelling curse words at staff members after they could not provide him with a cot for his room. They said his rude behavior caused public alarm and prompted the motel manager to call 9-1-1. Upon arrival, officers calmed down Howard before placing him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and he was being held without bail.
Posted on 1/3/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Uncooperative Man for Criminal Trespass in Downtown Area
Grants Pass Police arrested an uncooperative frequent flyer for probable cause of trespassing early yesterday. According to the Police Department, patrol officers contacted 35-year-old Travis Carrasco Boget in the 100-block of SW H Street on Tuesday at about 12:40 a.m.. Police said they spotted Boget sitting on a sidewalk at that location and knew he was wanted for a recent trespassing violation. They told the suspect he was under arrest, but he walked away from them and ignored lawful commands to stop. Boget continued to walk away when another unit was called in to assist placing him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Escape and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.
Posted on 1/3/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh
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Injured Hiker Rescued Tuesday in Remote Area of Southern Josephine County
An injured hiker was rescued yesterday in a remote area of southern Josephine County. On Tuesday at 2:12 p.m., the Williams Rural Fire Protection District was dispatched to a hiker with an injury about two miles up Marble Gulch on BLM land. Williams Fire officials said the hiker was brought down the mountain via a Stokes basket and was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for an unspecified injury. The hiker was not identified in the Facebook post. Officials said teamwork between the local fire district, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and American Medical Response make incidents like this one successful for the people involved and the community at-large.
Posted on 1/3/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
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Board Set for Brief Business Session during First Public Meeting of New Year
The first business session of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners in 2024 looks like it will be a short one. The only action item on the agenda is approval of a grant agreement between the District Attorney's Office and State of Oregon. Ordinarily, the Board selects its Chair and Vice-Chair during the first meeting of the new year. However, it appears that will take place on January 10th. The Consent Calendar contains various minutes from previous business sessions and legal counsel updates along with State Representative District 3 interviews and the selection of Dwayne Yunker to replace Lily Morgan in Salem. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens in which the public can address the Board for up to three minutes on virtually any topic. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.
Posted on 1/3/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
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Taking Simple Steps Now Can Ease Tax Filing Stress When Claiming Kicker
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Now that the excitement of the gift-giving season has come to a close, many Oregonians' thoughts will turn to the anticipation of something even bigger -- claiming their share of the state's all-time record $5.6 billion kicker tax credit. The good news is anyone who filed a 2022 Oregon income tax return is all set to claim their kicker on their 2023 return this year. The not-so-good news is filing taxes often creates anxiety, worry and stress. For those who dread tax season every year, the Oregon Department of Revenue says there's no reason to let tax season make you sweat. Taking a few easy steps in the next few weeks can make preparing your 2023 return easy -- and lower your heart rate in the process. The first thing taxpayers should do if they hope to claim their share of the kicker this year is to make sure they have filed a 2022 return. The department received more than 2.2 million 2022 tax returns so most taxpayers have done that -- but for those who haven't, filing a 2022 tax return should be their first priority. For more information, visit "oregon.gov/dor."
Posted on 1/3/24 6:11AM by Sam Marsh
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Medford Police and Asante Hospital Confirm Investigation Underway into Patients' Deaths
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Medford police have launched an investigation after authorities were contacted about a patient's death at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. Hospital officials confirmed that police are investigating one death at Asante in Medford, although families of two alleged victims have confirmed the loss of loved ones in interviews with the Rogue Valley Times. Lauren Van Sickle, Asante communications manager, said she was unable to comment on any reported deaths because police are investigating. Medford Police Lieutenant Geoff Kirkpatrick confirmed in a text: "We are investigating a case at Asante Rogue Regional. It is in its very preliminary stages and we have no further information we can release." Multiple hospital sources, who declined to be identified, confirmed dozens of patients injured by medication diversion -- the act of replacing a medication with another substance. Sources allege that a hospital nurse was removing fentanyl from IV bags and replacing it with tap water. One local family shared their story with the Times, which first learned of the investigation December 23rd. Grants Pass resident Garrett Atwood received a December 18th phone call in which
Posted on 1/3/24 6:02AM by Sam Marsh
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Talent Business Alliance among 24 Nonprofits in Oregon to Receive Grants from OCF
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A Talent nonprofit is among 24 Oregon-based organizations that have been awarded a total of nearly $575,000 by the Oregon Community Foundation's Thriving Entrepreneurs Program. This OCF funding will be shared by the two-dozen nonprofits for mentoring, technical assistance and access to capital for under-resourced entrepreneurs in order to help strengthen the state's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant is an open, responsive grant-making opportunity that offers organizations flexible funding. Each grant ranges from $15,000 to $25,000. The program prioritizes support for organizations that serve entrepreneurs who are women, people of color, living in under-resourced rural communities, or working in under-resourced sectors. The Talent Business Alliance received a grant of $25,000 to support local businesses and entrepreneurs at every stage of development by offering technical assistance, networking and advocacy to expand the vitality of the Talent community. Talent lost 60% of its businesses in the 2020 Almeda Fire and the remaining 40% continue to struggle in the wake of incredible losses from the fire.
Posted on 1/3/24 5:59AM by Sam Marsh
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