Local News

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for southwest Oregon, with the biggest threat on the Southern and Central Coast. The Flood Watch for the Coast and Josephine County runs from this evening through late Saturday night. Abundant moisture will arrive with the next storm system. Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. Precipitation runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone areas. Low water crossings may also be flooded. NWS officials said residents should monitor weather forecasts for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. Heavy rain may result in landslides in areas of steep terrain as well as debris flows in and near burned areas from recent wildfires. Debris flows are rapidly moving and extremely destructive landslides. Flows can contain boulders and logs transported in a fast-moving soil and water slurry down steep hillsides and through narrow canyons. They can easily travel a mile or more and move faster than a person can run. People, structures and roads located below steep slopes in canyons may be at serious risk.

 

The Local Government Grant Program (LGGP) has $30 million in grant funds available in 2024 to help local government agencies in Oregon fund everything from playground equipment and restrooms to splash pads and bicycle paths. This is more than double the amount available last year and the most ever available in one grant cycle. The LGGP is a competitive grant program designed to help local government agencies fund projects to acquire, develop and rehabilitate parks and public outdoor areas and facilities. Eligible applicants are cities, counties, metropolitan service districts, park and recreation districts, and port districts. The lottery-funded grant program is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). The program has awarded more than $90 million in reimbursement grant funds since 1999. The maximum awards range from $50,000 for planning grants to $1 million for large projects. The large grant application deadline is April 1st, while the small grant application deadline is May 1st and the planning grant application deadline is May 15th.

 

The US Forest Service will waive most fees for day-use sites on national forests in Oregon and Washington on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. This initiative is part of the recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day as a National Day of Service and is aimed at encouraging Americans to engage in volunteer service and enjoy the natural beauty of public lands. The fee waiver includes many Forest Service picnic areas, boat launches, trailheads and visitor centers. Fees for camping, cabin rentals or other permits still apply, and fees will continue to be charged at day-use fee sites operated by concessionaires -- unless individual managers choose to participate. Across the Pacific Northwest, volunteers serve a critical role in helping the Forest Service manage public lands. Volunteering on public lands is a great way to support your community and answer Dr. King's call to service. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit "fs.usda.gov."

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a local fugitive last night during a patrol check at a north-city motel and he is likely facing additional charges. The Police Department reports officers arrested 29-year-old Dylan Patrick Gregory at Motel 6 on NE 7th Street on Wednesday at 10:45 p.m.. Police said they were performing an area check at the motel when they spotted Gregory's vehicle and knew that he was wanted on two local warrants -- a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation related to previous arrests for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance, and a Jackson County warrant for Probation Violation related to impaired driving. Gregory was located in a motel room and placed into custody. During a consent search, an unknown amount of fentanyl was located on his person. The drugs will be weighed and a citation will be issued once the weight is confirmed. Dylan Gregory was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants and he was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for violating his post-prison supervision by causing a disturbance at a downtown coffee stand early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint involving 30-year-old Dennis Alan Knight, Jr., at the Dutch Bros stand near SW G Street in the newly-renamed Caveman Plaza on Wednesday around 8 a.m.. Police said Knight was reported to be smoking something, threatening to kill people and refusing to leave the business. He also refused to identify himself while making many violent statements and a Dutch Bros employee wanted him removed. Arriving officers contacted Knight who admitted to using methamphetamine throughout the night. His corrections officer was contacted and requested that his client be detained. Dennis Knight was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

A Grants Pass motorist was arrested for impaired driving late yesterday after he crashed into another vehicle, disabled both vehicles and injured himself. The Police Department reports officers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle wreck at the intersection of SW Bridge and Laurel streets shortly before 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Police said an investigation determined that 38-year-old Walter David Day was driving a Honda CRV west on Bridge when he rear-ended a Lincoln MRZ that had stopped at the intersection to allow another vehicle to turn left onto Laurel. Day told officers he did not see the Lincoln and hit it while going about 40 miles per hour. The violent impact broke the driver seat of the Lincoln, but the driver was not hurt. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Day was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with a head injury. He was contacted at the hospital where he showed signs of impairment and admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages before driving. After being medically cleared at the hospital, Walter Day was taken to the adult jail facility where he provided a positive breath sample. He was booked on charges of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving.

 

Grants Pass Police captured a statewide fugitive while investigating a motor vehicle accident that occurred on the east side of the city late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of NE Agness Avenue at F Street around 5 p.m. Wednesday. Police said a motorist they identified as "McKenzie" was driving straight on Agness while a motorist they identified as "Trader" was driving east on F when McKenzie failed to stop and struck the side of Trader's vehicle. No one was hurt and both vehicles were still drivable after the collision. An investigation determined that McKenzie was the at-fault driver because she had low visibility due to a cracked driver-side window. She was cited for Operation of an Unsafe Vehicle, Driving While Suspended and No Insurance. A passenger in one of the vehicles was identified as 33-year-old Brandon Alexander Lorenzi and it was discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State Warrant for Felony Parole Violation. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people in separate trespassing complaints that were filed by the arrestees' family members late yesterday. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred on Wednesday at 4:10 p.m. when officers arrested 29-year-old Jordan Taylor Longoria at a home in the 2300-block of NW Highland Avenue. Police said Longoria had returned to his grandmother's residence after he had been trespassed from the property. Responding officers found the suspect going through items in the carport and he was placed into custody. Longoria was charged with 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The second incident happened on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. when officers arrested 61-year-old Joseph Charles Ginevra at a home in the 800-block of NE 8th Street. Police said Ginevra's grandson called 9-1-1 to report that his grandfather was drunk, belligerent and wouldn't get out of his car. Officers contacted the suspect inside his grandson's car and he refused to exit. Turns out he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. He was removed from the car and jailed.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted a total of eight campers from three city parks during patrol checks that were performed early yesterday. It all started at Morrison Centennial Park where officers observed Clint Palomino and Marissa Winters with foil containing fentanyl residue. Palomino and Winters were cited for narcotics violations and trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Fruitdale Park, officers cited Dereck Lawrence and Melina Stephens for Misuse of Park Open Space and Scattering Rubbish. Justin Stout and Brittany Adams were cited for drug possession after they were observed with foil containing fentanyl. They claimed the tent and belongings were not theirs and that they were watching the items for a man called "Tom." Lawrence, Stephens, Stout and Adams were all trespassed from the park for 30 days. Also at Fruitdale Park, three truckloads of wet, soiled and hazardous materials were removed and disposed of at Southern Oregon Sanitation. At Baker Park, Tyson Hutchinson was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Kyle Conroy was cited for narcotics possession. Both were issued 30-day exclusions.