Local News

Applications are being accepted for one opening on the Josephine County/City of Grants Pass Solid Waste Agency Budget Committee. The Solid Waste Agency is a seven-member board, three each from the City of Grants Pass and Josephine County and one from the City of Cave Junction. The purpose of the agency is the mutual sharing of responsibilities to provide Solid Waste Management to Josephine County, oversee franchise agreements on behalf of all three jurisdictions, rate setting and rate changes, and the collection and allocation of the environmental program fee. The Budget Committee consists of seven citizens. Its purpose is to receive and review the proposed budget and recommend a spending plan for agency approval. Qualifications to serve on the Solid Waste Agency Budget Committee include a residence within Josephine County and voter registration. Experience in evaluation and analysis of the delivery of services is beneficial as well as a background in civic and community volunteer programs. Applications are available in the Grants Pass Public Works Office at 101 NW A Street, Room 205, or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application. All applications must be returned by 5 p.m. on January 19th.

 

A Medford woman who was critically injured during an unprovoked attack last month has died and the suspect who attacked her is facing upgraded charges. The Medford Police Department reported on Tuesday that 51-year-old Jessica Delyon passed away last week when she was taken off life support 17 days after she was assaulted by 22-year-old Anthony Siple on North Keene Way. On November 18th at 6:26 a.m., Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon began receiving multiple calls about a disturbance near North Medford High School, with a woman screaming and a man assaulting her. Dispatchers also received a call from the suspect who admitted to attacking the woman. MPD officers arrived in the area within three minutes and contacted Siple while he was walking away with evidence he had been involved in an assault. Delyon was located nearby and she was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Anthony Siple was arrested and lodged at the Jackson County Jail for Attempted Murder and 1st-Degree Assault. Detectives said he used a blunt object during the assault and that he and the victim were unknown to each other. Following the death of Delyon, Siple has now been charged with two counts of 2nd-Degree Murder, 1st-Degree Manslaughter and 1st-Degree Robbery. He has been indicted by a Jackson County grand jury and remains in custody without bail.

 

Wildlife Images Animal Rehabilitation & Education Center has announced it is temporarily closing its doors for the rest of this month and January. Due to a sudden and significant change in staffing, the world-renowned center was forced to make the difficult decision to close the park until February. During the closure, the wildlife rehabilitation clinic is still open for wild patient admissions seven days a week. The park's animal services team is on site taking care of their in-house residents and patients. This temporary closure allows the team to focus fully on their mission of saving wildlife while they train new front-of-house staff. Wildlife Images officials said they will reopen again in February better than ever. The park is reorganizing and improving internal systems while embracing new ideas they share with their partners at the Australia Zoo. To do this, they hired new Operations Director Amy Webb who has years of experience for various non-profits and prior expertise in strategic partnerships, fundraising and managing events. Look for the grand re-opening announcement on their social media site and website in early 2024.

 

The Grants Pass Fire Department is excited to announce a new partnership with Watch Duty to host a Watch Duty Echo system in this community. This innovative technology will enhance early wildfire detection and response, giving the local fire department a crucial advantage in protecting homes and businesses while communicating this information to the Grants Pass community. The Watch Duty Echo is a receiver that picks up first responder radio traffic, which allows Watch Duty reporters to receive real-time updates on nearby fire activity, even before official alerts are issued. Local fire radio communications can be listened to "live" on the following website: "m.broadcastify.com/listen/ctid/2221." With this early warning system, the Grants Pass community can take immediate action to evacuate, prepare and stay informed.

 

Prompted by last week's controversial decision by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners to approve a withdrawal from the local library district, at least four more property owners have made the same request. The Board on Wednesday will hold a public hearing in the matter of withdrawing four properties from the Josephine Community Library District that was approved by a majority of voters in 2017. According to the Weekly Business Session agenda, the Bertsch, MacDonald, Millard and Marshall families have petitioned the Board to be removed from the district. Last week, Commissioners Herman Baertschiger and John West approved a withdrawal request made by the Mike and Winnie Pelfrey Trust. The Josephine Community Library District has vowed to take legal action to stop the Board from approving any more withdrawals, citing a legal precedent that will be felt both locally and across the state. The public hearing is the only action item on tomorrow's agenda, which also has Requests and Comments from Citizens. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man last night for six felony-level crimes including murder and assault. The Police Department has so far provided no details about the incident, but Josephine County Jail records show officers lodged 59-year-old Michael Fay Woodruff on Monday at 10:17 p.m.. Woodruff was booked on charges including two counts of 2nd-Degree Murder and one count each of 2nd-Degree Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, 1st-Degree Robbery and 1st-Degree Burglary. Michael Woodruff was being held without bail and we are awaiting more details about the investigation.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for domestic violence against his wife after a family gathering last weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested 44-year-old Kenneth Charles Sumner for the alleged incident that occurred at a home on SW Leonard Street on Sunday shortly after midnight. Police said Sumner and his wife have a history of domestic violence. During a Saturday night family gathering, an argument started between the couple and it escalated later that night after they returned to their home. An investigation determined that Sumner consumed a large amount of alcoholic beverages, he approached his wife in their bedroom and threatened to kill her. He reportedly got physical with the woman before she locked him out of the bedroom. He also grabbed her in an attempt to take keys to a vehicle, but she was not hurt. Upon arrival, officers placed Kenneth Sumner into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Domestic Menacing and Domestic Harassment. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for violating her post-prison supervision by causing a disturbance at a rural market in the North Valley area on Monday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested 58-year-old Deanna Antoinette Ocampo at 11 a.m. yesterday for the incident at Sam's Market on Monument Drive. Deputies said Ocampo became verbally hostile toward market workers, refused to leave the business when asked to do so and made threats. The manager wanted her trespassed from the store. Upon arrival, deputies placed Ocampo into custody and learned that she was on post-prison supervision for a recent robbery conviction. Her corrections officer was contacted. Deanna Ocampo was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation. She was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a runaway juvenile yesterday after he broke into a Cave Junction residence, stole a gun, money and other items before he was caught by the homeowner. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies placed the teenage boy into custody at a home in the 5600-block of West Side Road on Monday around 11:30 a.m.. Deputies said they received a call from the homeowner who said the caught the boy squatting at his residence and the boy told him he wanted to turn himself in. The caller said the boy was unarmed as he had taken possession of the pistol the boy had stolen. The boy also took money, marijuana, a pipe, clothing and food. Responding deputies placed the runaway boy into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Juvenile Justice Center where he was lodged for 2nd-Degree Burglary, 1st-Degree Theft and Criminal Trespass. His family was notified.