Local News

Jackson County SO Search & Rescue Member Named 2023 Volunteer of the Year
News Image
A Jackson County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR) member was named "Volunteer of the Year" during an awards ceremony held earlier this month. Scott Rayburn received the award from the Oregon State Sheriff's Association Search & Rescue Advisory Council for outstanding professional achievement and accomplishment. Since joining Jackson County SAR in January 2017, Rayburn has been on 161 missions, totaling over 2,800 mission hours. After joining SAR, he quickly became a key member of the unit.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:41AM by Rain Redfield
 

GP Police Officers and Firefighters Active in Week Leading Up to Christmas Day
News Image
Grants Pass police officers and firefighters were active during the week leading up to the Christmas holiday weekend. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 651 calls for service along with 252 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 60 arrests, 17 citations, 12 warnings and four highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 70 traffic stops and made 27 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:40AM by Rain Redfield
 

Guided "First Day Hikes" Set for January 1st at Three Local Oregon State Parks
Led by park rangers and volunteers, guided First Day Hikes are set for 31 Oregon State Parks on New Year's Day -- Monday, January 1st. Hikes are free and the $5 day-use parking fee is waived that day for all state parks that require a parking permit and are open. America's State Parks sponsors the First Day Hikes program nationwide to encourage everyone to start the year outside and connect with nature. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) has participated since 2012.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:39AM by Rain Redfield
 

Pacific NW Task Force Tracks Down & Arrests Kansas Man for Child Sex Abuse
Led by the United States Marshals Service, the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force tracked down and arrested a man wanted out of Kansas on a felony warrant for child sex abuse near Wimer yesterday. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports the suspect -- 51-year-old Ben J. Baxter of Kansas -- was wanted on a felony charge of Sex Abuse of a Minor Under 14 Years of Age. The crime occurred between June 27th and July 1st of this year. Ben Baxter is now lodged at the Jackson County Jail awaiting extradition back to Kansas.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:38AM by Rain Redfield
Read more
 

GP Police Arrested Man for Breaking into Garage of Acquaintance and Sleeping
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for breaking into the garage of an acquaintance, bedding down and going to sleep early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a reported burglary at a home in the 200-block of SW Central Avenue on Friday shortly after 1 a.m.. Police said 44-year-old Danial Bryan Cook broke a window on the garage door to gain access to the dwelling occupied by a man identified as David McDonald. The victim found him and insisted that he did not have permission to be on his property -- even though they spend time together and the suspect contends he was told he could stay at the house anytime he wanted.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:37AM by Rain Redfield
Read more
 

RR Man Jailed for Felony Assault & DUII after Striking Bicyclist on Highway 99
A Rogue River man was jailed for felony assault after he struck a bicyclist while driving drunk on Highway 99 near Grants Pass. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the collision near milepost 4 of Rogue River Highway late Thursday night. Troopers said an investigation indicates 49-year-old Rene Anthony Sanchez was driving a Ford F-150 pickup south on the highway when he hit a bicyclist who was properly in the roadway.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:36AM by Rain Redfield
Read more
 

Jackson County Commissioners Honored Teenager for Saving His Grandmother
The Jackson County Board of Commissioners has recognized a Central Point teenager for saving the life of his grandmother and possibly others earlier this year. According to the Central Point Police Department, Tayen Lander's grandmother was driving west on Biddle Road when she suffered a medical emergency. With the car still moving and his grandmother unconscious, the 16-year-old Landers decided to press on the brake and steer the car away from traffic in the intersection. The boy then performed CPR while waving down passing motorists who helped call 9-1-1. His grandmother was transported to the hospital and has since recovered.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:35AM by Rain Redfield
Read more
 

Rural Metro Officials Issue Christmas Tree Safety Alert Just Prior to the Holiday
Rural Metro Fire Department reports a naturally-cut Christmas tree put up the day after Thanksgiving has been drying out for about a month. How old is your tree? Rural Metro officials said to be extremely careful to avoid any spark, open flame or source of heat coming into contact with your Christmas tree. Safety precautions include turning off decorative lights when leaving the house or going to bed. And of course, make sure your home has working smoke alarms. The firefighters from Rural Metro wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:34AM by Rain Redfield
Read more
 

GP Police Assisted Ashland Police by Snaring Man Suspected of Identity Theft
Grants Pass Police assisted the Ashland Police Department this week when it arrested a man suspected of stealing identification cards in that city. According to the Police Department, officers were at Walmart on an unrelated matter Thursday when loss prevention mentioned they were helping APD identify a male suspect who had used a stolen credit card at the Grants Pass store. After viewing photos of the suspect identified as "Craig McCurdy" and his white minivan with a luggage container on top, officers said McCurdy suddenly became the subject of a welfare check regarding an unresponsive male subject in his van in the parking lot. A female caller reported a male subject who appeared to be passed out and did not respond when she knocked on the window.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:33AM by Rain Redfield
Read more
 

GP Police Nabbed Motorist for DUII and More after Redwood Avenue Wreck
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and more after she wrecked her vehicle into a tree in the Redwood area this week. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle crash near the intersection of Redwood Avenue and George Tweed Boulevard on Thursday night. Police said they had received reports of a Nissan Maxima passing several vehicles at a high rate of speed in the center turn lane of Redwood Avenue just prior to the crash. Witnesses said the Nissan swerved onto the sidewalk, hit a stop sign and then slammed into a tree in the yard of a residence. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:30AM by Rain Redfield
Read more
 

GP Police Collared Klamath County Fugitive after Shoplifting Attempt at Walmart
Grants Pass Police apprehended an out-of-county fugitive who attempted to steal items from Walmart this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 27-year-old Brittany Ann McGrath at the store on NE Terry Lane around midday Thursday. Police said McGrath bypassed all points of sale at Walmart with $29.99 worth of unpaid-for merchandise. They said she provided a false name while being detained by loss prevention and again when placed into custody by responding officers. Turns out McGrath had reason to provide a false identity. She was wanted on two Klamath County Corrections warrants for Parole Violations related to convictions for Assault and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. She also physically resisted being placed into custody.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:29AM by Rain Redfield
Read more
 

GP Man Jailed for Entering Former Girlfriend's Home and Releasing Her Pet Dog
A Grants Pass man was jailed for illegally entering the home of a former girlfriend and releasing her dog this week. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 33-year-old Brandon Russell Kobrzycki for the incident at a home in the 400-block of NE Anderson Street late Thursday night. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 around 2 p.m. Thursday and stated that she left her home because she was afraid Kobrzycki was inside the residence. They said that she and the suspect were in an on-and-off relationship for about a year, and it ended when she became concerned about his drug and alcohol addictions. The woman called back in the evening and gave more information that Kobrzycki had previously been trespassed from her home, but he returned and damaged the front door a few days ago. She said she did not want to press charges at that time, but she had changed her mind and would not return home until he was gone.
Posted on 12/26/23 10:28AM by Rain Redfield
Read more