Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after she crashed her vehicle into a house in the southeast part of the city last weekend. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews responded to the incident in the 1500-block of Ben Aire Circle on Sunday around 5:45 p.m.. Upon arrival, police said they observed a blue Chevrolet Cruze in a front yard with the front end of the vehicle inside the wall of a house. They identified the driver as 56-year-old Deana Lynn Calver and said she displayed strong signs of impairment. According to the report, Calver had an odor of alcohol coming from her breath and bloodshot, watery eyes. She had trouble standing and answering questions, and she refused to participate in field sobriety tests or provide a breath sample. A search warrant was obtained and Calver was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that fully documented her impairment. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. Her vehicle was impounded.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving following a weekend traffic stop in the south part of the city. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a Ford Fusion driven by 33-year-old Brian Kenneth Van Dusen in the 300-block of Union Avenue on Sunday at 1:18 a.m.. Deputies said they stopped Van Dusen for traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. Based on the evidence, Van Dusen was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle and two passengers were released to a family member.

 

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has announced a temporary 10-day closure in the vicinity of Huckleberry Mountain. If you're planning on camping in a High Cascades Ranger District campground between August 22nd and 31st -- including Labor Day weekend -- a few areas will be closed. The US Forest Service reports several campgrounds will be open during the closure including Union Creek, Natural Bridge, Jim Creek, River Bridge, Mill Creek, South Fork and Farewell Bend. Some dispersed camping sites will also be available.

 

The Grants Pass City Council is in favor of adding 12 positions to the police and fire departments as soon as possible. During its workshop on Monday, the City Council informally voted unanimously to create six new positions for both agencies at an estimated cost of $1.83 million. City Manager Aaron Cubic presented two options to the Council. The first would add seven full-time public safety positions -- four for GPPD and three for GP Fire & Rescue. But Council members agreed that public safety is their first priority and budget cuts may have to be made in order to fund the 12 additional positions. Another consideration was improving the city fire department's ISO rating to "1," which could significantly lower fire insurance premiums for residents and business owners. A final vote on the public safety staffing increase is set for September 3rd. In other business, the City Council tabled a request from Main Street Grants Pass to provide $100,000 in funding for its staffing and operations. The organization currently has only 11 members and the panel wants to see more participation. The Council approved a $3,000 funding request for the painting of murals in the Redwood Alley. The Committee on Public Art previously requested $15,000 for a mural, but the committee came back with a proposal to take three murals that will have to be removed due to the Owl Parking Lot Project and put them in the alley. The artist is willing to repaint them for a total of $6,000, with private donations picking up half of the cost.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a public hearing on a lease application from a locally-owned mineral research property development company during its weekly business session this week. American Mineral Research (AMR) last week published a 14-page story about their 5-1/2-year journey researching a Josephine County Forestry property east of Wolf Creek which contains a storied gold mine. AMR previously filed a lawsuit against Josephine County due to the Board of Commissioners not acting on the company's lawful mining lease application submitted in May 2023. In June, the lawsuit was settled in AMR's favor, requiring the Commissioners to hold a public hearing and make a decision on the application before the end of this month. The hearing was set for this Thursday at 10 a.m.. AMR officials believe Josephine County can earn over $400,000 in royalties each year to help fund law enforcement. While most revenues will come from gold production, the company also seeks to produce rare minerals such as Tellurium, which is used in building high-efficiency solar panels and other technology.

 

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Grants Pass and Josephine County Joint Bikeways & Walkways Committee due to an expiring term. This is a three-year appointment. The purpose of the Bikeways & Walkways Committee is to seek input from the community, coordinate and disseminate information for public education about biking and walking routes and rules, and serve as a resource and advisory group regarding bicycle and pedestrian trails for the City and County. Applicants for this open position must be residents of the City of Grants Pass who represent the interests of bikers and walkers. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, October 3rd. Applications will be reviewed by the Committee on Tuesday, October 14th. The Grants Pass City Council will make the appointment at its regular meeting on Wednesday, November 5th.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for exposing himself while urinating in front of two juveniles at a city park late last week. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at Redwood Park on Dowell Road on Friday around 4:20 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined that 50-year-old Brian Jay Steffen exposed himself to the 12- and 10-year-old children who reported the incident to American Medical Response personnel at the park. AMR staff reported the suspect's behavior was violent and alarming as he charged and lunged at them several times. Officers arrived on scene and placed Steffen into custody without further incident. Steffen was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and he was being held without bail on a probation detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested an out-of-compliance sex offender on an outstanding warrant while performing a weekend patrol check at the 5th Street Overlook. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 65-year-old William Ward Fleming, Jr., and another person at the Rogue River viewpoint in the 1200-block of SW 5th Street on Saturday at about 9 p.m.. Police said they located Fleming on the other side of the fence after the posted hours of operation. He was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. He was also found to be out-of-compliance with his sex offender registration. Fleming was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant as well as for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. He was being held without bail.

 

Police arrested a motorist for suspended and impaired driving after a weekend traffic complaint at a bar in the Grants Pass Shopping Center. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident at Joe's Sports Bar & Grill off NE E Street on Saturday at 9:15 p.m.. Police said a bar patron reported that 62-year-old Troy Alan Farrow appeared to be intoxicated and he was trying to leave the watering hole in a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers contacted the suspect and he displayed multiple signs of impairment. He was also found to be driving with a felony-level suspended license. Farrow performed poorly in field sobriety tests and he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. Farrow was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Felony Driving While Suspended.