Local News

Firefighters battled a recreational vehicle fire in the Wilderville area that claimed the lives of two dogs early yesterday. On Thursday at 8:31 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue were dispatched to a large vehicle fire in the 300-block of Cheney Creek Road. Crews arrived on scene to find the RV already fully-engulfed in flames with spread to an adjacent treehouse. Both the RV and treehouse were destroyed before the blaze was fully extinguished. There were no human injuries reported, but two dogs perished in the holiday fire. Rural Metro officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation and they were receiving assistance from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Fire Marshal.

 

Rogue Creamery's world champion Rogue River Blue cheese is coming to a tap near you. According to a news release, Crux Fermentation Project will release a "limited-edition, lambic-style ale brewed at Rogue Creamery's cheesemaking facility using the yeast and flora" of Rogue River Blue. Rogue River Blue took home the top prize at the 2019 World Cheese Awards. Since then, the Oregon creamery's cheeses have been featured at White House dinners and won a subsequent world's best prize. "Beer and cheese are a natural pair, and this Rogue Creamery Crux Coolship made with their iconic blue cheese is no exception," Crux brewmaster Larry Sidor said in the release. The beer won't be offered in stores, but it will be available for purchase at Crux Fermentation Project locations and at Rogue Creamery in Central Point starting Saturday. Crux has a tasting room in Bend and opened its Portland location earlier this year. Crux Portland is located in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood in Southeast Portland.

 

The holidays are dedicated to gathering, gratitude and cherishing our loved ones, but it's also essential to consider their health and well-being. As the holiday season begins, now is the perfect time to make sure all your loved ones are covered by enrolling in a quality health insurance plan at "OregonHealthCare.org" by January 16, 2024. "OregonHealthCare.org" offers quality health plans designed to meet all basic needs and more including preventive care, reproductive health services, chiropractic, acupuncture and mental health services. With numerous plans available, the Marketplace offers free, local support for comparing and choosing a plan. Insurance agents and community partners statewide provide local, one-on-one assistance at no charge, available virtually and over the phone. Experts can also help to identify financial assistance options and cost savings eligibility as part of the free support they offer. Eighty percent of enrollees seeking financial help qualified in 2023. As families in Oregon and across the country continue to grapple with financial challenges, there are options available to help identify coverage within their budget, potentially at a price point lower than their current insurance. To determine eligibility for a more affordable plan through the Marketplace, visit "orhim.info/ESIcoverage."

 

The 2023 holiday shopping season is here and the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is reminding people to watch out for financial scams that can target their pocketbooks -- particularly gift card scams. Gift card scams often start with a phone call, text, e-mail or social media message. Scammers will say anything to get you to buy gift cards -- such as Google Play, Apple or Amazon cards -- and hand over the card number and PIN codes. According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers will say it is urgent, they will tell you which gift card to buy and where, and they will ask you for the gift card number and personal identification number (PIN) codes. Scammers tell different stories to get you to buy gift cards so they can steal your money. They may say they are with the government such as the Internal Revenue Service or Social Security Administration. They may say they are from Tech Support such as Microsoft or Apple. They may say they are a friend or family member with an emergency. They may say you have won a prize. They may say they are from your utility company. If you feel you may have been scammed, the DFR's consumer advocates may be able to help. They can be reached at 1-(888)-877-4894.

 

If you are in the giving spirit this holiday season, the Toys for Tots program is now underway. Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue are teaming up with the Rogue Valley Young Marines & Marine Corps Reserves and Josephine County Toys for Tots again this year to bring a special Christmas to kids in need. You can drop off new unwrapped gifts at several locations including Rural Metro Station 1 on Williams Highway, Rural Metro Station 2 on Monument Drive, Rural Metro Station 4 on Redwood Highway, Rural Metro Station 5 on Azalea Drive, Rural Metro's Administration Office on NE 6th Street, AMR's Administration Office on NW F Street and the Parkway Fire Station on East Park Street. Additional drop-off events this year will be in front of the Grants Pass Bi-Mart this Saturday, November 25th, and on Saturday, December 2nd, as well as at the Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony in Grants Pass. If you want to register your child to receive a gift from Toys for Tots, please visit: "josephine-county-or.toysfortots.org."

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a young woman for attempting to flee from custody during an appearance in Josephine County Family Court yesterday. The Police Department reports officers tracked down and arrested 18-year-old Alexis Frankie-Ann Shoesmith in an alley between NW D and E streets near 2nd Street shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday. Police said Shoesmith was involved in a custody hearing in Family Court when she fled the courtroom. She had been arrested on an outstanding warrant at a city park earlier in the week. Once outside the facility, she shed her detention uniform and shoes before running away. She was located hiding in some bushes. Alexis Shoesmith was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Escape. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on nationwide and local warrants for drug trafficking in the southeast part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 42-year-old Daniel Wayne Stephenson during a traffic stop in the 700-block of Rogue River Highway shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday. Police said Stephenson was driving a Dodge pickup when they stopped him for a traffic violation. They said he initially was noncompliant with officers and it did not take long for them to figure out why. Stephenson was wanted on a United States Marshals Service warrant for Parole Violation and a Grants Pass felony warrant for Unlawful Possession and Delivery of Fentanyl. He was placed into custody after the warrants were confirmed. Daniel Stephenson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Reports of two men fighting in downtown Grants Pass yesterday led to the arrest of one of them on a statewide felony warrant. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a disturbance involving two men at the corner of SW 5th and L streets on Wednesday at about 3:15 p.m.. Police said witnesses reported that 44-year-old Danial Bryan Cook and another man were engaged in a physical and verbal altercation, which was causing public alarm. Callers said they would "hug it out" and then go back to fighting. Upon arrival, officers contacted Cook who advised that he and his friend were just "playing around" and no one was hurt. A routine records check revealed that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. Underlying charges included Failure to Report as a Sex Offender, Disorderly Conduct, Petty Theft and Offensive Littering. Danial Cook was placed into custody and booked into the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for stealing merchandise from Walmart last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the shoplifting call at the store on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday at 8:36 p.m.. Police said 30-year-old Kelsey Jade Seidel concealed around $75 worth of items and bypassed all points of sale without paying. She was detained by store security and was described as "cooperative" while freely admitting that she had been caught while shoplifting at a Walmart in a different state. Kelsey Seidel was lodged at the nearby Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft. She was also trespassed from Walmart, which recovered its stolen property.