Local News

Grants Pass firefighters had a busy January while responding to a diverse range of emergencies. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue reported that fire calls last month were moderate with 16 incidents, but medical aid calls surged to 171 while highlighting the agency's vital role in community health. A concerning trend emerged with 23 overdose calls in January, prompting efforts to continue raising awareness and providing resources for addiction support. Overall, the city fire department's dedication and expertise were on full display throughout the month, ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.

 

The Josephine Community Library District has announced that the Illinois Valley branch in Cave Junction will be closing for renovations early next month. The IV library branch on West Palmer Street will close on Sunday, March 3rd, and the last day of service before the closure will be Saturday, March 2nd. The library branch is expected to reopen to the public in mid- to late-fall of this year. During the library closure, temporary library services will be available at the Illinois Valley Senior Center at 520 East River Street. Services there will include a book drop open Mondays-Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and item pick-up service on Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.. To take advantage of the weekly pick-up service, patrons can use their library card account to place requests on books and other items through the online catalog at "josephinelibrary.org." Patrons will be notified when requested items are ready. For technical assistance, calls to the IV branch will be forwarded to library staff. The renovated library will include a meeting space with a maximum capacity of 80 people along with a teaching kitchen and dedicated ADA-accessible restroom, an early learning center, outdoor space for library programs and more.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters were busy protecting the community last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 634 calls for service along with 348 officer-initiated calls that resulted in 47 arrests, 29 citations, 51 warnings and six highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 125 traffic stops in the city and made 17 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 222 contacts with potential trouble-makers while arresting two people, citing 39 more and warning 50 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 25 individuals, posted 89 transient camps and helped remove trash from five campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 83 calls last week including 39 for emergency medical service, one report of fire or smoke, 15 lift assists, nine rescue situations, three assists to other agencies and five false alarms. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 1,069 emergency calls in addition to 744 calls for non-emergency service.

 

The annual refund hold that is part of the Oregon Department of Revenue's fraud prevention effort has been completed and the agency began issuing the first refunds of the 2024 tax season last week. Oregon is returning $5.61 billion in surplus revenue to taxpayers in the form of a "kicker" tax credit in 2024. Taxpayers will receive their kicker as part of their refund, or the kicker can reduce the tax they owe. Most refunds are issued within two weeks, but returns that need more review may take up to 16 weeks before a refund is issued. Taxpayers can check the status of their refund by using the department's "Where's My Refund?" tool at "oregon.gov/dor." A video outlining the refund process and timelines is also available to help taxpayers better understand the process.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office rescued an infant and toddler after they were abandoned in rural Jacksonville by their father as he fled from law enforcement on Friday afternoon. The suspect -- 24-year-old Justin Ryan Trompeter of Trail -- is wanted for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault, 3rd-Degree Robbery, 1st-Degree Theft and Reckless Endangerment for a February 7th incident that occurred in Shady Cove. While searching for Trompeter yesterday, deputies discovered the suspect was hiding with two children -- ages 6 months and 1-1/2 years -- deep in the woods surrounding Jacksonville. Deputies quickly located a vehicle at the top of Wagon Trail Drive with the two young children abandoned and alone at 1:30 p.m..Trompeter fled the scene before deputies' arrival. The children were checked out by Mercy Flights medics and then turned over to the Oregon Department of Human Services for safe-keeping. New charges of 1st- and 2nd-Degree Child Neglect are being added to Trompeter's criminal bill by the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. Justin Trompeter is known to frequent the Shady Cove and Trail areas. Anyone who has information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the Jackson County Sheriff's Office at (541)-776-7206.

 

A Grants Pass man was jailed for allegedly beating up his girlfriend at a home in the Redwood area this week. The Grants Pass Police Department reports 22-year-old Jareth Tate Wallis was arrested for the domestic violence incident in the 1400-block of Schutzwohl Lane on Thursday night. Police said an investigation determined that Wallis caused physical injury to his 21-year-old girlfriend during a physical altercation. They said the suspect impeded the breathing of the victim by choking her. This placed her in fear of serious injury while he kicked and punched her. A witness said the victim also had bite marks. According to the report, Wallis was highly impaired by alcohol during the incident. Jareth Wallis was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Domestic 4th-Degree Assault, Domestic Strangulation and Domestic Menacing. He was being held without bail. The victim -- who refused medical treatment -- was provided with information about the Women's Crisis Support Team.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on a statewide felony warrant after contacting him in a city park early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 54-year-old Antonio Zapata Guindazola at Baker Park on Friday at 1:11 a.m.. Police said Guindazola was a passenger in a vehicle parked near the entrance to the city park. They said a routine records check revealed that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Felon in Possession of a Weapon. After the warrant was confirmed with the Oregon State Parole Board, Guindazola was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

A motorist was injured yesterday when they crashed their vehicle into a tree off Redwood Highway in the Wilderville area. Engine Company 7504 from Rural Metro Fire Department's Wilderville Station was alerted to a crash in the 8,800-block of US Highway 199 at 1:55 p.m. Friday. Arriving units found a vehicle off the highway and into a tree. The unidentified driver was transported by American Medical Response to Three Rivers Medical Center with moderate injuries. No one else was hurt. Rural Metro officials said southbound traffic was backed up for miles due to the crash. There are no alternate routes in the area. By 4 p.m., traffic was beginning to move freely. The Oregon State Police was investigating the cause of the accident.

 

The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center answered more than 1,000 calls over the past week. In its Week in Review post on Facebook, the local 9-1-1 Dispatch Center reports that it received a total of 1,069 emergency calls. The bulk of the calls -- 982 -- were for the Grants Pass Police Department, with 286 calls recorded for American Medical Response. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue accounted for 83 calls, followed by Rural Metro Fire Department with 49. The Illinois Valley Fire District received 20 calls while the Oregon Department of Forestry received 6, the Williams Rural Fire Protection District received 4 and the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District got 3. Dispatchers also answered 383 inbound calls from their administrative lines and made 442 outbound calls from the 9-1-1 center.