Local News

Are you planning to get an early Christmas tree? Firefighters warn that cutting a tree now begins the countdown to having a very flammable tree in the living room before Christmas and the New Year. According to Rural Metro Fire Department, even placing the tree in water doesn't keep it from eventually drying out. A cut tree should be inside your home for no more than four weeks. If you cut your own tree, you will know how long it has been dying. If you get one off a tree lot, it has been dying for quite a while. So pick wisely. Regardless of the amount of time a tree remains in your home, please use extreme caution with any ignition source. Keep tree and decorations away from wood stoves, heating devices, candles and curious pets. Use caution with tree lights, especially the strands that have been baking in your attic each summer. Always have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to provide early detection of a fire and give you and your family a better chance of escape. When the time is right and you are ready to get a Christmas tree permit and view maps of the cutting areas, visit "bit.ly/RRSNFXmasTrees."

 

The City of Grants Pass has announced that grant funds are available for a winter warming shelter. The city does not operate warming shelters, but has grant funds available for some community providers that are willing and able to operate temporary shelters during the upcoming winter season. The purpose of the grant is to support the operation of a temporary warming shelter. The grant will act as a reimbursement of pass-through funding. Eligible requests will be the actual needs of the proposed 2023-24 warming shelter. Providers applying for grant funds should demonstrate their plans for operating a shelter within the scope that the City of Grants Pass has established. Respondents shall provide a detailed explanation of the funding amount requested and how it is to be spent. The objective is to maximize the sustainability of funds to address Grants Pass' ongoing need for a temporary shelter. The deadline for sealed submissions in response to this open call for grant funding is Friday, December 8th, by 3 p.m.. Community providers wishing to apply for grant funds to operate a shelter can find more information on the application form by visiting the Document Center at "grantspassoregon.gov."

 

In the event of a local emergency, would you, a loved one or friend need special assistance? Sign up now for the Disaster Registry serving residents in Josephine and Jackson counties. Provide vital information about your specific needs and receive timely alerts and support during disasters. You should sign up for the Disaster Registry if you would need outside help to safely leave your home during a disaster, if you would be in jeopardy if you stayed in your home without assistance for three days, or if you need special notification about the need to evacuate due to impairment. Join the registry in building a resilient community. Together, we can weather any storm. To download an application or to apply online, please visit "rvcog.org/home/sds-2/emergency-preparedness/disaster-registry." For more information, contact LeAnn Turnbull with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments at (541)-423-1373 or e-mail "turnbull@rvcog.org."

 

Project Youth Plus has been celebrating 25 years of service in Southern Oregon by holding a holiday donation drive for local underserved youth. Help spread joy this holiday season by donating new clothes, shoes or funds to the drive to make sure all youth enjoy the holidays. Unwrapped gifts, gift cards, cash or checks are gratefully accepted. Project Youth Plus serves more than 1,700 youth every year in Josephine and Jackson counties. More than 80% of the youth are low-income, 22% are students of color and 87% are first-generation college-bound students. The Grants Pass office of Project Youth Plus is located at 789 NE 7th Street. The deadline for donations is this Thursday, November 30th. Together, we can make a difference. For more information, contact Brenda at (541)-659-8637 or e-mail "Brenda@pyplus.org."

 

A Grants Pass man was jailed for numerous crimes following a Thanksgiving night traffic stop in the Redwood area. The Oregon State Police reports troopers pulled over a Subaru Legacy driven by 35-year-old Danylo Andreyavich Moskalyuk on Redwood Avenue near Dowell Road at about 11:30 p.m. last Thursday. Troopers said they stopped Moskalyuk for a traffic violation and he proceeded to give them a false name. Once his true identity was uncovered, it was discovered that he was wanted two active arrest warrants. He was found to be in possession of a concealed weapon during the stop and a fentanyl pill during booking at the jail. Danylo Moskalyuk was charged with Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Supplying Contraband at a Corrections Facility, Resisting Arrest, Furnishing False Information to Police, Driving While Suspended and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was lodged without bail and both the weapon and fentanyl pill were seized as evidence.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Douglas County man for stealing a motorcycle and drug possession after a Thanksgiving Day traffic stop in the North Valley area. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Suzuki motorcycle ridden by 28-year-old Cameron Sullivan of Tenmile near the corner of Monument Drive and Camp Joy Road last Thursday at 4:47 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Sullivan for a traffic violation and quickly discovered that the motorcycle had been reported stolen out of Roseburg. The ignition had been punched and the suspect admitted to hot-wiring it to start it. He also admitted to being in possession of a narcotic substance and attempting to sell it. Cameron Sullivan was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Attempted Delivery of a Controlled Substance. He was being held without bail. The registered owner of the motorcycle -- a 71-year-old Roseburg man -- was notified of its recovery. The bike was hauled into Grants Pass by Oregon Towing.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for making a series of thefts at Home Depot this month -- including $275 worth of merchandise this past weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested 35-year-old Lee Raymond Baldyga at the home improvement store on NE Mill Street on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.. Police said Baldyga passed all points of sale with $274.97 worth of items and exited the store without paying. He was detained by loss prevention officers who advised they had video surveillance of the suspect stealing two lawn mowers on November 4th and 5th, with each valued at about $1,200. Upon contact with police, Baldyga admitted to the lawn mower thefts as well as to being in possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine. He was placed into custody and the meth was seized for destruction. A car battery he tried to steal was returned to the store. Lee Baldyga was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Possession of Meth, two counts of Felony 1st-Degree Theft and one count of 2nd-Degree Theft. He was also trespassed from Home Depot.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on an outstanding warrant along with two new felony-level crimes following a weekend traffic stop in the Redwood area. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a vehicle driven by 39-year-old Magdaleno Torres in the 1200-block of Redwood Avenue on Saturday shortly after 10 p.m.. Police said they stopped Torres for a traffic violation and he pulled into the parking lot of Dollar General. They quickly discovered that Torres was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving While Suspended and Furnishing False Information to Police. A large amount of methamphetamine was found on him while he was being placed into custody. Magdaleno Torres was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Felony Possession of Meth and Felony Driving While Suspended. His vehicle was legally parked and his dog was taken to the Animal Shelter.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a young shoplifter after he tried to steal merchandise from Walmart over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Saturday around 3:40 p.m.. Police said 19-year-old Jacob Warner Cross attempted to deprive Walmart of more than $167 worth of items by concealing them in an ice chest and passing all points of sale without paying. He was placed into custody in the store parking lot where it appeared he was waiting to be picked up by a vehicle. He was arrested instead. Jacob Cross was lodged at the nearby adult jail facility for 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail and the stolen merchandise was returned to Walmart.