Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman this week after she generated multiple calls for service regarding her behavior. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a female subject who was walking down the middle of NW D Street while carrying a small dog shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday. Police said callers reported that 46-year-old April Anne Herzog appeared to be under the influence of narcotics or was having some sort of mental episode. One caller said the woman told them she wants to see people die "because they have wolf eyes." Another caller reported she tried to climb into the back of his truck. Officers responded and contacted Herzog who was lying in the middle of the street. They placed her into custody and seized her aggressive dog and took it to the Josephine County Animal Shelter. Herzog was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and she was being held without bail.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a roadside fire along Interstate 5 on Merlin Hill again this week. It was not far from a similar fire that occurred Monday afternoon. Rural Metro and ODF crews were dispatched to the incident on Wednesday. Engine 7502 from Rural Metro's Monument Drive Station arrived to find the small fire already had been contained by several passersby who jumped into action. This included Smith's Lawn Care with a water tank and hose. Rural Metro officials said roadside fires like this one are common this time of year due to extremely dry conditions and vegetation that is receptive to the smallest spark. Officials thanked vigilant citizens who were in the right place at the right time with the tools needed to keep the fire small. But it is the responsibility of anyone taking independent action to understand the hazards fire can impose on personal safety.

 

Firefighters helped the award-winning Grants Pass High School Marching Band and Color Guard celebrate the end of their rigorous two-week summer camp. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was excited to give the two-time Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade participants a refreshing end to their camp by spraying down band members on Wednesday night. Fire officials said it was awesome to see the GPHS team work so hard through the sweltering summer heat to build and perfect their new show "Black Swan." The GPHS Marching Band and Color Guard is participating in a Drumstick Challenge at Mel Ingram Field this evening at 7. The community is invited to attend and support the group as they kick off their 2025 season.

 

Led by Board Chair Andreas Blech, the Josephine County Commissioners have tabled consideration of a lease agreement for the Grants Pass branch library until next week. During a public hearing held after the weekly business session on Thursday, Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett outlined the agreement which calls for an extension of the $1 per year lease for five years, with the Josephine Community Library District assuming financial responsibility for building and grounds maintenance plus paying 1/6th of the cost of replacing the roof at the building on NW C Street. JCLD Director Kate Lasky and the district's attorney Mark Bartholomew both championed the agreement, stating that it showed "a shared commitment for the welfare of the community" and urged the Board to approve it immediately. Numerous library supporters also encouraged the Commissioners to act now during public comment. However, library critics including recalled Commissioner John West and former Grants Pass Budget Committee member Mike Pelfrey spoke in opposition to the agreement. Commissioner Blech appeared to be listening to them. At what should have been the end of the hearing, Blech asked for a motion to table consideration of the lease agreement until next Thursday because of the late hour and an appointment he said he had at 1 p.m.. He stated that the Board faced lengthy deliberations to consider the pact, even though it was described as a "win-win" by Barnett, Lasky, Bartholomew and many others.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners completed the first half of its weekly business session yesterday by approving an order that transfers the jurisdiction of approximately 1.5 miles of county roads to the City of Grants Pass. The Board voted 3-0 to approve the jurisdictional transfer of parts of Highland Avenue, 10th Street, Willow Lane and Denton Trail to Grants Pass. The City has agreed to maintain these roads in the future, absolving Josephine County of their maintenance and repair. In other business, the Commissioners unanimously approved the sale of a small piece of county-owned property on Garden Valley Way in Grants Pass for $1,890 via quitclaim deed to a private party. Josephine County Transit Director Scott Chancey made two presentations to the Board. He first presented the Transit Coordination Plan, which is a federal and state requirement. He hopes to gain formal approval from the Commissioners on the 38-page document that outlines the agency's priorities in October. Chancey also presented planned transit service reductions for the district due to a staffing shortage. He said JCT will be dropping one run between Grants Pass and Cave Junction, one run between Grants Pass and Medford, and reducing evening service hours on all remaining routes from 9 p.m. to 7 p.m..

 

Rogue Community College invites the public to explore its campuses and programs at three free open house events this month. The events are designed to help future students and their families explore what RCC has to offer. Events will be held at all three RCC campuses. The first is next Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Riverside Campus in Medford and the second is Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Table Rock Campus in White City. The third open house is scheduled for August 26th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Redwood Campus in Grants Pass. The Redwood Campus event will also celebrate the grand opening of RCC's newly-remodeled E Building, which will offer allied health classes. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 10 a.m.. Each open house is designed as a flexible drop-in experience with something for everyone -- future students, families, working adults and even retirees. Participants who pre-register at "roguecc.edu/openhouse" will be eligible to receive a gift at check-in.

 

Led by Board Chair Andreas Blech, the Josephine County Commissioners have tabled consideration of a lease agreement for the Grants Pass branch library until next week. During a public hearing held after the weekly business session this morning, Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett outlined the agreement which calls for an extension of the $1 per month lease for five years, with the Josephine Community Library District assuming financial responsibility for building and grounds maintenance plus paying 1/6th of the cost of replacing the roof at the building on NW C Street. JCLD Director Kate Lasky and the district's attorney Mark Bartholomew both championed the agreement, stating that it showed "a shared commitment for the welfare of the community" and urged the Board to approve it today. Numerous library supporters also encouraged to Commissioners to act now during public comment. However, library critics including recalled Commissioner John West and former Grants Pass Budget Committee member Mike Pelfrey spoke in opposition to the agreement. Commissioner Blech appeared to be listening to them. At what should have been the end of the hearing, Blech asked for a motion to table consideration of the lease agreement until next Thursday because of the late hour and an appointment he said he had at 1 p.m.. He stated that the Board faced lengthy deliberations to consider the pact, even though it was described as a "win-win" by Barnett, Lasky, Bartholomew and many others. Barnett made a motion to table the agreement, but appeared to change his mind when he stated that he wanted to "end this now." However, it was too late after Smith seconded the motion.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners completed the first half of its weekly business session this morning by approving an order that transfers the jurisdiction of approximately 1.5 miles of county roads to the City of Grants Pass. The Board voted 3-0 to approve the jurisdictional transfer of parts of Highland Avenue, 10th Street, Willow Lane and Denton Trail to Grants Pass. The City has agreed to maintain these roads in the future, absolving Josephine County of their maintenance and repair. In other business, the Commissioners unanimously approved the sale of a small piece of county-owned property on Garden Valley Way in Grants Pass for $1,890 via quitclaim deed to a private party. Josephine County Transit Director Scott Chancey made two presentations to the Board. He first presented the Transit Coordination Plan, which is a federal and state requirement. He hopes to gain formal approval from the Commissioners on the 38-page document that outlines the agency's priorities in October. Chancey also presented planned transit service reductions for the district due to a staffing shortage. He said JCT will be dropping one run between Grants Pass and Cave Junction, one run between Grants Pass and Medford, and reducing evening service hours on all remaining routes from 9 p.m. to 7 p.m..

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a serial arsonist for setting more fires in the downtown area early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 56-year-old Shannon Dixon Beckett on railroad property between SE 8th and 9th streets on Wednesday at 6:23 a.m.. Police said three separate calls for service were generated for fires Beckett started at 210 SE 8th Street, 130 SE J Street and SE 9th Street at the tracks. They said a dumpster in the alley behind Point S Tire was set on fire and burned part of the fence at the Eagles Lodge. Damage estimates were not available. Beckett was contacted on railroad property from which he had been trespassed. He was in possession of a hat with soot on the bill and one glove plus a lighter was found that he admitted belonged to him. He admitted to lighting the fire on railroad property, causing damage to vegetation. He also admitted to lighting cardboard boxes in the alley on SE 8th Street. A citizen used a fire extinguisher to put it out. All the fires had been fully extinguished by 6 a.m. and Beckett was immediately identified as the primary suspect. He has intentionally set numerous fires in Grants Pass and Medford in recent months. He has been trespassed from the City of Medford for his actions. Beckett was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Arson, Reckless Burning and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without any scheduled bail.