Local News

Two men were jailed last weekend for the shooting deaths of two other men at a residence near Cave Junction -- plus there was another shooting in Cave Junction. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies and the Oregon State Police responded to the shooting incident in the 1700-block of White Schoolhouse Road on Saturday at 3:44 p.m.. Undersheriff Travis Snyder said deputies and troopers located two deceased males with apparent gunshot wounds. Due to the nature of the incident and the lack of investigative resources, the Sheriff's Office requested OSP investigate the incident. Josephine County Jail records show two men were arrested in connection with the incident. OSP lodged 47-year-old Javier Martinez-Avalos and 40-year-old Sergio Calderon-Martinez for the slayings. Both are being held on two counts each of Aggravated Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The victims were not identified and the investigation is continuing. Meanwhile, deputies and troopers responded to another shooting in the 100-block of South Kerby Avenue in Cave Junction on Sunday at 12:44 p.m.. When deputies arrived on scene, they located a male subject with gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was transported to a hospital and is in stable condition. Snyder said at this time, there is nothing connecting this incident to the incident on White Schoolhouse Road. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

 

Despite passage of the public safety levy earlier this month, Grants Pass police and fire services still face a critical funding shortfall. Grants Pass has created a survey that is open to residents and business owners in the city, so they may tell the City Council how they would like to resolve the funding issue. The respondent's address or business address is required to verify residency or business ownership. The survey presents six options: a public safety utility fee that would start around $27 a month per household and $88 a month for most businesses and nonprofits, a food and beverage tax that would implement a 7% tax on prepared food and beverage purchases within the city, a general sales tax of about 2% on retail purchases that would not include groceries and some other items, a combination utility fee and food & beverage tax, a combination utility fee and retail sales tax, or a reduction in police and fire staffing. The City Council voted to survey taxpayers before making a decision to choose a funding option. Grants Pass residents and business owners wishing to take the electronic survey can use the following link: "survey.alchemer.com/s3/7615203/City-of-Grants-Pass-Public-Safety-Funding-Options." The deadline to submit the survey is 10 a.m. on December 4th.

 

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce invites organizations, civic groups, churches, schools, teams and individuals to participate in the annual "Operation Joy" program. "Operation Joy" is designed to provide some holiday cheer for those in assisted living centers. There are four participating facilities and participants are welcome to address cards for some or all of the locations including Highland House, Royal Gardens, Regency Care and Oak Lane. Participants in the program can secure holiday cards from the Chamber or provide their own cards. Gather your family, co-workers and group members to address the cards. Due to the constant fluctuation of residents in care, the Chamber asks that cards be generally addressed such as "Dear Friend" or "Dear Neighbor." Return completed cards to the Chamber to be delivered by December 20th. The Chamber is currently accepting donations of unused Christmas cards. Please drop cards off at 1995 NW Vine Street between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

 

Two men were jailed over the weekend for the shooting deaths of two other men at a residence near Cave Junction plus there was another shooting in Cave Junction. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies and the Oregon State Police responded to the shooting incident in the 1700-block of White Schoolhouse Road on Saturday at 3:44 p.m.. Undersheriff Travis Snyder said deputies and troopers located two deceased males with apparent gunshot wounds. Due to the nature of the incident and the lack of investigative resources, the Sheriff's Office requested OSP investigate the incident. Josephine County Jail records show two men were arrested in connection with the incident. OSP lodged 47-year-old Javier Martinez-Avalos and 40-year-old Sergio Calderon-Martinez for the slayings. Both are being held on two counts each of Aggravated Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The victims were not identified and the investigation is continuing. Meanwhile, deputies and troopers responded to another shooting in the 100-block of South Kerby Road in Cave Junction on Sunday at 12:44 p.m.. When deputies arrived on scene, they located a male subject with gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was transported to a hospital and is in stable condition. This case remains under investigation and further details are unavailable at this time. Snyder said at this time, there is nothing connecting this incident to the incident on White Schoolhouse Road. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

 

A Grants Pass woman was injured when she crashed her vehicle on Interstate 5 on Mount Sexton during a weekend rainstorm. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 68 at about 11:45 a.m. Saturday. Troopers said 72-year-old Susan Faye Johnson was driving a Toyota 4-Runner when she lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve and crashed into the center divider. They said the wreck occurred just as heavy rain had moved into the area. According to OSP, Johnson was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. Her wrecked vehicle was hauled into Grants Pass by Oregon Towing. OSP was assisted at the scene by Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

A Grants Pass man was cited for causing a weekend motor vehicle accident on Riverbanks Road late yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision near milepost 16 of State Route 260 at 4:32 p.m. Sunday. Troopers said 35-year-old Nicholaus Peter Faulkner was driving a Chevrolet Silverado when he pulled out in the roadway directly in front of a Pontiac G6 driven by a 15-year old driver from Grants Pass. The G6 ran into the side of the Silverado, which sustained minor damage and was able to be driven away. According to OSP, the teenage driver of the G6 complained of knee pain and was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center as a precautionary measure. Faulkner and the teen's adult male passenger were not hurt. The G6 was heavily damaged and towed by Caveman Towing. Following an investigation, Faulkner was issued a citation for Failure to Yield to Oncoming Traffic.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant after responding to a weekend complaint at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a disorderly conduct call involving 57-year-old Robert Vincent Jones near the Fairgrounds late Friday afternoon. Police said Jones was reported to be standing in the median west of the entrance to the facility throwing rocks, trash and other items at passing vehicles. There were no reports of damage or injuries, but Jones complained of chest pain upon contact. A routine records check showed that Jones was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was placed into custody without further incident. Robert Jones was lodged in jail on the warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for violating terms of her probation by using drugs after she was found passed out behind the wheel of an idling vehicle on the east side of the city near Walmart. The Police Department reports officers were on patrol when they contacted 44-year-old Carrie Leann Parren in the 100-block of NE Terry Lane on Saturday at about 2:30 a.m.. Police said they spotted an idling Acura sedan with Parren passed out behind the wheel. They said a methamphetamine pipe was observed in the center console, although the suspect said she had not used anything recreationally that night. Officers contacted Parren's corrections officer who requested she be placed on a detainer. Carrie Parren was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Probation Violation because she had failed to report to her corrections officer. She was also cited to appear in court for the narcotics violation.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for a traffic violation at the Reaching Our Community (ROC) food pantry over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance at the ROC -- which is located in the 500-block of SW Foundry Street -- on Saturday around 10:50 a.m.. Police said 61-year-old Gregory Scott Hicks was the subject of a traffic call after he arrived at the food pantry and became aggressive with staff members. Upon arrival, officers observed him in the driver's seat of a running Nissan sedan. His license was suspended and he told officers another person drove the vehicle. According to the report, there was an open bottle and several miniature bottles of alcohol in the vehicle -- but Hicks did not display any signs of impairment. Gregory Hicks was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving While Suspended. The case was forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for prosecution.