Local News

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office promoted a corrections sergeant to lieutenant in a recent ceremony. Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler swore in Corrections Lieutenant Melissa Di Constanzo during the ceremony last week at the Sheriff's Office in Central Point. Lieutenant Di Constanzo has worked at the Sheriff's Office since 2006 and brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the new position. She is already considered a trusted leader on the team and essential member of the Sheriff's Office family. Di Constanzo's proud father pinned on her new Lieutenant's badge at the event. Sheriff Sickler said Di Constanzo has already done a lot for the law enforcement profession and Jackson County community, adding that she has a desire to make things better around her. Congratulations Lieutenant Di Constanzo!

 

A new federal indictment accuses a Klamath Falls man of an attempted escape from the Jackson County Jail and a second kidnapping in addition to the alleged abduction of a woman from Washington to Oregon last summer. The Oregonian reports a three-week trial is now set to start in federal court in Medford on October 7th. Prosecutors estimated at least 50 witnesses will be called at trial, with roughly half based in Klamath Falls or Medford. The superseding indictment now accuses 30-year-old Negasi Zuberi of also kidnapping a second woman in Klamath County on May 6th, of an attempted escape from his cell in the Jackson County Jail in August and of unlawfully possessing a handgun, a shotgun, two rifles and numerous rounds of ammunition as a convicted felon. He initially faced a two-count indictment charging him with kidnapping and transportation with Intent to engage in sexual activity. The new indictment doesn’t give any details on the second kidnapping charge. It picks up the alleged jail escape case that was initially filed against Zuberi in state court. According to court records, a Jackson County maintenance worker noticed an unusual noise coming from one of the cells while he was outside the county jail about 12:45 p.m. on August 22nd and alerted sheriff’s deputies. Deputies found Zuberi on his bunk bed, near a window that appeared to be chipped. He’s accused of using an improvised, screw-like device to strike and shatter glass in the cell. The device was found attached to his sandal.

 

A new funding opportunity from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) promotes safe and long-lasting homes by offering qualifying groups support toward repairs and rehabilitation of low-income housing. The first round of this funding opportunity from OHA's Healthy Homes Grant Program (HHGP) aims to improve health and safety, maximize energy efficiency and extend usable life of both rented and owned low-income residences. Possible repairs include, but are not limited to structural renovations for improving home access such as wheelchair ramps; upgrades to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; and mold and mildew abatement. OHA officials said renovations can help protect people from extreme heat and cold, and keep indoor air clean from wildfire smoke, asthma triggers and allergens. Older and very young people with pre-existing health conditions are all at higher risk of health impacts from these hazards. Details on eligibility requirements are available on OHHGP's Request for Grant Application webpage. Qualifying groups are asked to submit their "Intent to Apply" by Friday, February 23rd, at 3 p.m. before sending a complete application by April 9th at 3 p.m..

 

Nominations are still open to honor the outstanding contributions of Education Support Professionals in Oregon. You can submit an application to recognize a special Education Support Professional (ESP) through Wednesday. Nominees should embody the core values of Accountability, Equity, Excellence and Integrity. Education Support Professionals work together with teachers and administrators in Oregon public schools to perform a variety of jobs promoting quality education, fostering positive learning environments, offering nutritious meals, providing reliable transportation, maintaining safe and clean schools for all students and more. The 2024 ESP of the Year will be surprised with a special announcement this spring. Thanks to the Oregon Department of Education's partnership with the Oregon Lottery, the Oregon ESP of the Year will receive an award of $5,000 as well as a plaque and banner to commemorate this significant achievement. Additional details can be found on the "Oregon Education Support Professional of the Year" website.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman wanted on a statewide felony warrant following a weekend incident at a local fitness center. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a medical call at Planet Fitness on Williams Highway on Saturday shortly after 7 p.m.. Police said 48-year-old Terri Lee Brown was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center due to an unspecified injury. Officers said there was a male subject with two large swastika tattoos on his chest becoming violent, they moved to avoid a confrontation and then followed the ambulance to the hospital. Additional units responded for the hostile man who was identified as "McGhee." While at the hospital, it was determined that Brown was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for Felony Mail Theft. Terri Brown was cleared by hospital staff and then lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on two local felony warrants after a weekend patrol check at a city park. The Police Department reports officers arrested 31-year-old Justin Matthew Webber at Riverside Park on Saturday at 9:25 p.m.. Police said they contacted Webber as a potential suspect in a case they were investigating, ran his information through dispatch and discovered that there were two valid and serviceable warrants for his arrest. Webber was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for the same crime. He had been out of compliance with his registration since June 2019. After the warrants were confirmed, Justin Webber was lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for violating her post-prison supervision after she was involved in a drug-fueled weekend incident at Riverside Park. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 30-year-old Malae Ryean Kimack at the city park on Saturday at 9:40 a.m.. Police said Kimack was located inside the men's restroom at Riverside Park and she appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. A witness reported that she was splashing water around and slapping walls in the restroom. Kimack had a prior trespass warning at the park and she was found to be in possession of a Schedule 2 narcotic substance, which was seized for destruction. Malae Kimack was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Criminal Trespass, the narcotics violation and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. She was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for indecent behavior at a local motel over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 45-year-old Steven Adam Hughes at the Grants Pass Travelodge on NW Vine Street on Saturday around 11:30 a.m.. Police said Hughes and the motel manager got into an argument over the price of a room. They said he exposed and briefly fondled himself in front of the woman, and he did so in clear view of the public -- including two witnesses who retreated to a nearby restaurant and called 9-1-1. After placing Hughes into custody at the motel, officers learned that he had a prior conviction for indecent behavior in 2019. Steven Hughes was lodged at the Josephine County for Felony Public Indecency. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for attempting to steal nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting call involving 42-year-old Carol Ann Shimer at the store on NE Terry Lane on Saturday at about 12:25 p.m.. Police said Shimer went to Walmart and selected more than $939 worth of items after she had purchased her prescription medications. They said she passed all points of sale and failed to pay for the large shopping cart full of merchandise. Carol Shimer was initially uncooperative with loss prevention at the store. She was placed into custody and lodged at the nearby Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. A debit card in her possession was returned to a man staying at Motel 6.