Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed his vehicle into a ditch on Redwood Highway at the start of the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a motor vehicle crash on the south side of US Highway 199 near Rogue Credit Union on Friday shortly after 6 p.m.. Police said 21-year-old Ulises Leonel Saldivar was passed out in a Ford Ranger at the Chevron station at the corner of the highway and Ringuette Street. They said he was awakened by concerned citizens and then drove the pickup out of the lot, through the intersection, across all travel lanes of the highway and into a ditch. Saldivar was treated at the scene by American Medical Response, but he refused transport to the hospital. He was visibly impaired, but refused to participate in field sobriety tests. He was then taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. Ulises Saldivar was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. He was lodged at the Sobering Center and his truck was towed.

 

Firefighters from two agencies battled a chimney flue fire near the Josephine-Jackson county line early yesterday, sparing the house and its contents of serious damage. Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to the reported structure fire in the 3700-block of Foothill Boulevard Sunday morning. Called in by a passerby, crews rushed to the scene to find the fire already spreading through the attic. The blaze was stopped after firefighters used long-handled tools to pull down ceiling material. These holes -- often created in living rooms and bedrooms -- provided access points where they were able to apply water. Rural Metro officials said most of the house and contents escaped serious damage. The contents were gathered together and covered with heavy tarps to shield against water and debris raining down from the attic. There were no injuries reported. Officials said the best way to avoid similar damage in homes that use wood heat is to have the chimney flue cleaned and inspected annually. They said always have working smoke alarms in case a fire breaks out in the middle of the night.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters remain busy protecting the community from criminal offenders and other dangers. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 583 calls for service as well as 226 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in numerous arrests, 14 citations, 11 warnings and six highly intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 84 traffic stops in the city and made 16 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 122 contacts with potential trouble-makers while arresting three people, citing 54 more and warning 63 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 30 individuals, posted 61 transient camps and helped remove trash from 11 campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 96 calls last week including 43 calls for emergency medical service, two reports of fire or smoke, 13 lift assists, four rescue situations, six assists to other agencies and seven false alarms. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 956 emergency calls.

 

Traveling outside the Rogue Valley is strongly discouraged due to challenging road conditions around other parts of the state. The Oregon Department of Transportation reported this morning that sub-freezing temperatures still cover much of the Willamette Valley, making road conditions challenging for at least the next couple of days. Freezing rain is expected Tuesday. Northbound Interstate 5 south of Eugene remains slow and congested due to overnight crashes. Last night, vehicles spinning out, crashing or losing traction in southern Lane County blocked the freeway for hours, causing a traffic backup. Crews are plowing 24/7 and using de-icer by the hundreds of thousands of pounds as well as sanding packed ice and snow on the roads. However, the amount of ice and extremely low temperatures limit the effectiveness of these tools -- especially for vehicles without chains. Meanwhile, warming temperatures in southwest Oregon could lead to flooding especially in Coos County. Watch for high water and debris on roadways on valley and coastal routes. ODOT officials said consider delaying your travel until later this week, if possible. If you must travel, be prepared for difficult driving conditions. Carry chains, plenty of fuel, snacks and blankets in case of delays. For the latest state highway information and to see current closures, visit "tripcheck.com."

 

Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for private health insurance in Oregon's health insurance marketplace. Open enrollment is the exclusive time of year when individuals can sign up for private health insurance and Tuesday is the deadline. Since open enrollment began on November 1st, nearly 141,000 people have signed up for health insurance in 2024. More than 80% of Oregonians who have enrolled in medical coverage through "OregonHealthCare.gov" are getting financial help with an average savings of over $525 per month. These savings reduce the monthly premium to have health insurance. Additional financial help called cost-sharing reductions are available for thousands of Oregonians with out-of-pocket costs on Silver-level plans. Oregonians who are losing Oregon Health Plan benefits or who experience another major life change -- such as marriage, having or adopting a baby, moving or changing jobs -- may also be able to enroll outside the open enrollment period. "OregonHealthCare.gov" offers a quick and easy-to-use window-shopping tool at "orhim.info/shop" where users can preview which plans and savings are available to them.

 

The Oregon State Police assisted in the rescue of an injured owl in Shady Cove last week. OSP Fish and Wildlife officers responded to a report of a small injured owl near a Shady Cove residence on Thursday. The reported "baby" owl turned out to be a Northern Pygmy Owl -- a species not much larger than a baseball. The rescued owl appeared to have an injury to its wing and was released to the care of a wildlife rehabilitation center for evaluation, treatment and, hopefully, release back to where it was found. Although injured raptors are a common call for Fish and Wildlife troopers, the responding officer said it was the first time he had encountered a Northern Pygmy Owl in person. OSP Captain Kyle Kennedy said they are thankful to have partnerships with nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation facilities who help save animals like this little owl. He said they appreciate the commitment of their staff, volunteers and donors who help fulfill their mission of preserving and protecting Oregon's natural resources.

 

A woman is in jail and a man cited to appear after Josephine County Deputies made contact with the couple on a remote road. Friday afternoon the Sheriff’s log shows a license plate check of a Dodge Ram pickup on forest service road 38-7 and the immediate detention of two individuals. Both were arrested following a search of the vehicle. Michael Spliethof, 35, was cited to appear on an active warrant for failure to appear for unlawful possession of methamphetamine and then released. The woman, 33-year-old Andrea Lee McGrath, was arrested and lodged in the County Jail on three warrants, two for failure to appear on charges of unlawful possession of meth and one charge of failure to appear for a charge of theft II

 

A 43-year-old woman was arrested and jailed by Sheriff’s Deputies Friday morning after she attacked her mother. 911 received a call just after 10 a.m. saying his daughter came into their home, uninvited, was harassing them. According to the Sheriff’s narrative, the daughter does not live there, is a transient, and walked in without permission and when told to leave attacked her mother. Deputies arrived at the residence in the 500 block of Tina Way and contacted the daughter, Diana Marie Reynolds, and arrested and transported her to the County Jail on charges of harassment-offensive physical contact and criminal trespass II.Ms. Reynolds has been a frequent resident at the County facility having been incarcerated eight times since June of 2023 on a plethora of charges including criminal trespass II, disorderly conduct, mail theft and theft III.

 

The Bureau of Land Management is welcoming 2024 by providing fee-free visits to public lands on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. The BLM is waiving recreation standard amenity and day-use fees on Monday in honor of MLK's birthday, which is a federal holiday to recognize his service and leadership in the civil rights movement. Locally, the BLM's standard amenity day-use fees will be waived at Hyatt Lake Recreation Area in Jackson County. The fee waiver does not apply to any expanded amenity fees for overnight camping, cabin rentals or special recreation permit fees along permitted rivers. Winter weather recreation requires more preparation to stay safe. Check with your local BLM office to learn about current conditions and road closures. Remember to always pack the 10 essentials: navigation tools, headlamp, sun protection, first aid kit, knife/gear repair kit, fire essentials, shelter, extra food, extra water and extra clothing.