Local News

A policy was adopted by the City of Grants Pass to seek volunteer invocation speakers to offer an invocation at the beginning of its regular meetings on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

The City website says authorized representatives of established religious congregations within the Grants Pass Urban Growth Boundary or that is attended by a City resident are invited to request inclusion on the list of invocation speakers.

Speakers will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and the authorized representative may designate any speaker to provide the invocation at the scheduled meeting.

This opportunity is voluntary and speakers are free to offer the invocation according to the dictates of their own conscience. To maintain a spirit of respect, the City requests only that the prayer or invocation not be used as an effort to convert others to the particular faith or belief of the speaker, nor to disparage any faith or belief different from that of the speaker.

Requests to provide invocation can be submitted through the City’s website by 4 p.m. on November 19th. Questions regarding the policy should be directed to City Recorder Karen Frerk at 541-450-6000.

 

The City of Grants Pass is offering a new Request for Proposal (RFP) to support capital development for the delivery of services to homeless individuals, including individuals with disabilities.

According to the City website, funds will be directed toward capital support for projects within the Grants Pass Urban Growth Boundary that include bathroom facilities available to people who are homeless.

Projects must demonstrate expected improvement to delivery of direct services if funded. Nonprofit organizations that provide direct services to homeless individuals are eligible to apply for the funding. The full RFP can be accessed at https://grantspassoregon.gov/bids.aspx?bidID=363

The deadline for submission in response to this request for proposals is Thursday, November 12th, no later than 2 p.m. local time. Questions regarding this program should be directed to City Recorder Karen Frerk at 541-450-6000.

All proposals received will be opened on the deadline date at 2 p.m. The City of Grants Pass reserves the right to cancel the solicitation, refuse any and all submittals received, and to issue a new RFP as it deems necessary.

 

Medicare beneficiaries wanting to discuss plan options can receive free, confidential help from the Oregon Department of Human Services during Open Enrollment.

According to the ODHS, help includes comparing and selecting Medicare plans, reviewing their current coverage and assistance with making changes for the upcoming year. Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 plans will remain open now through December 7th.

The Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program provides free help from certified counselors who can help people understand their benefits and make informed decisions about their Medicare options.

During the Open Enrollment period, people with Medicare can:
• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan,
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare,
• Change their Medicare Advantage Plan,
• Change or enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan, and
• Review changes in costs, coverage and provider networks.

SHIBA certified counselors can help Oregonians compare plans and explain programs that can save them money on Medicare costs. They also report scams to Medicare in addition to educating people on how to avoid Medicare scams or fraud.

 

Two suspects were cited for stealing WinCo merchandise Thursday afternoon.

Loss prevention with the 231 NE Terry Lane store reported the suspects were in the process of concealing an unknown dollar amount of meat items around 3:38 p.m. They were detained by staff after passing all points of sale without paying.

Grants Pass Police arrived and detained the two suspects. It was learned they had stolen over $100 worth of items, concealing them in their clothing and under shopping bags. Staff wished to pursue for charges of theft, and the two were arrested.

Officers later released the two from custody, and cited them to appear in court for Second Degree Theft.

 

Dispatch was alerted to a break in at a NW B Street residence Wednesday, and the suspect was ultimately arrested by Grants Pass Police.

The caller reported Britny Ann Gideon, who had been evicted from the home, broke in earlier in the day. There was damage to the sliding glass door, the lock mechanism was burnt, and the backyard gate was open.

Estimated damages were about $1,000 according to the caller, and officers responded to the scene. Gideon was contacted and found to have been previously trespassed from the residence. She was transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for First Degree charges of Trespass, Criminal Mischief, and Burglary.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a woman found slumped over in the driver's seat of her car and parked illegally for Methamphetamine Possession.

Wednesday, a call to 911 at 8:03 a.m. reported the suspect was slumped over the steering wheel of a black 4-Door Toyota. The vehicle was parked the wrong way on SW Judson Street by the J Street stop sign.

Officers responded to conduct a welfare check, and contacted the woman, Sunni Renchausen. It was clear she was under the influence, and she attempted to conceal a baggy of a white crystal residue between her legs. She ultimately advised it was meth, which was confirmed by field testing.

Renchausen was taken into custody for Possession of Meth and lodged in the Adult Jail Facility, but later released due to a lack of resources. Her vehicle was towed from the scene.

 

Following an alarm response, Grants Pass Police contacted and arrested a man found with drug paraphernalia Wednesday night.

Officers responded to a call for service regarding an alarm at Coral Sea Scuba and Water Sports around 11:31 p.m. The perimeter was secured, and there was no sign of a crime. A man was observed halfway covered in a sleeping bag and nodding off nearby. He was contacted and identified as Kristopher Young.

The police report says he was moving in an unnatural manner, and had tooters strung up in his lap and on the ground, all three of which tested presumptive positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

Young admitted to the use of fentanyl, but no paraphernalia substantiated the claim. His parole officer was contacted, and a detainer was requested. Officers proceeded to transport Young to jail for Possession of Meth and the detainer.

 

Oregon State Police arrested two suspects Wednesday, one for an active warrant, and the other for Disorderly Conduct and Harassment charges.

Danny Osborne, 29, of Grants Pass, was registering as a sex offender at the Police Station when he was arrested by troopers for his active felony parole board warrant. Law enforcement transported him to the Adult Jail Facility for lodging at 11:34 a.m.

Then at 8:39 p.m., a trooper responded to assist the Josephine County Sherriff's Office with an out of control brush fire in the 100 block of Sunflower Lane. While on the scene, a highly intoxicated woman on the property was attempting to close a gate and refuse to allow firemen access back to their engine.

Law enforcement assisted the firemen with accessing their vehicle, but the suspect again attempted to close the gate, striking a trooper in the process. She resisted while being taken into custody before being placed into handcuffs, and was identified as Alicia Garcia, 46, of Grants Pass.

She was subsequently lodged in jail. Her charges of Resisting Arrest, Harassment, and Interfering with a Firefighter or EMT were not filed by the District Attorney's Office according to jail logs.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man after he violated a restraining order against him twice in one evening.

Wednesday at 6:21 p.m. the protected party in a restraining order against Vincent Rivera told dispatch that he was currently at her residence in the 1200 block of Fruitdale Drive. She said he was high on meth and carrying a black trash bag before walking on Fruitdale towards town screaming.

While enroute to the scene, police contacted the protected party, who said Rivera was walking by the address yelling at her that his feet hurt. The restraining order was confirmed, but attempts to locate Rivera in the area were unsuccessful.

Later that night, a call to 911 again reported Rivera was at the door of the Fruitdale Drive residence. He was reportedly intoxicated, had thrown something, and was banging on the locked door. He was located by officers shortly thereafter, and ring camera footage showed his attempts to contact the protected party at the residence.

Police took Rivera into custody and transported him to be lodged in the Josephine County Jail for two Contempt of Court charges.