Local News

After an Executive Session Monday where counsel was consulted concerning the legal rights and duties regarding current or likely to be filed litigation, Grants Pass City Council met to discuss Fee Schedule Revisions, City Manager evaluation, and Invocation Policy and Procedures.

City staff had recommended revisions for the Comprehensive Fee Schedule, including Owl Plaza rates, the cost for background checks, and restructuring of shelter charges. Annual changes are put into effect January 1st, based on the average monthly Consumer Price Index - Urban from November to October.

Council agreed to increase the $7 Non-Resident Fee to $10, and implement changes made yesterday with CPI-U adjustments for January 1st.

A discussion then took place for the City Manager evaluation process. The current and alternative methods were considered, with the desired outcome including fair and candid discussion, clear council expectations, constructive feedback, and future growth.

A motion to adopt the new form including quarterlies, with work to be done on a 2027 360 review, the requirement that all council members fill out an evaluation form in advance, and that the mayor facilitate was discussed. November 4th will be the adoption, with the evaluation scheduled for November 18th.

A new Invocation Policy was drafted and provided to council, saying there is no requirement to participate, and invocation will be voluntarily delivered by a representative of an established congregation. The presented policy describes the process for speakers and how they will be scheduled. No compensation will be given, and no preference is being expressed.

A motion to move forward with the policy and procedures with modifications passed 5-2, with Councilor Rob Pell dissenting and Councilor Indra Nicholas abstaining. The policy will be brought back to council at Wednesday's meeting.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrested a woman wanted on an out-of-county warrant early Sunday morning.

A woman was reported in the 2900 block of Merlin Road around 2:33 a.m. She was screaming and hollering, and was contacted by arriving deputies by 2:45 a.m. It was determined the suspect, Sherryl Parliament, was wanted out of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office for Driving Under the Influence of Meth.

Deputies cited her to appear in Jackson County Circuit Court November 18th, then released her.

 

Officers with Grants Pass Police contacted and arrested a man parked in a no parking zone and slumped over in his vehicle for Possession of Fentanyl.

Saturday at 7:17 a.m., a welfare check was requested by a 911 caller regarding a man slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle parked in front of a fire hydrant. The vehicle wasn't blocking traffic but was running at the corner of Kellenbeck Avenue and Redwood Avenue.

Police located the suspect inside his vehicle. Drug paraphernalia including burnt foil and a tutor were located in his vehicle. He was awakened, detained, and identified as Tyler Smedley.

The paraphernalia field tested positive for fentanyl, and police lodged Smedley in the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility. His dog was secured at the shelter by Animal Control.

 

A man called 911 to report an attempted assault with a tire iron, leading to the suspect's arrest Sunday night.

Dispatch was alerted to the incident at 10:52 p.m., when the caller stated someone tried to assault him. The suspect pulled up next to the caller, then came towards his vehicle with a tire iron in hand while screaming.

The incident was reportedly a continuation of an incident that occurred the night before. The suspect swung the tire iron at the reporting party while he was still inside his vehicle, and he was unsure where on the vehicle the suspect had also hit. The caller told dispatch he was currently in the Applebee's parking lot, and law enforcement responded.

Officers arrested the suspect, Tyler Adair, and located the tire iron inside his vehicle within arm's reach. His parole officer was contacted and a detainer was issued. Adair was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Menacing, and the detainer.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police arrested a woman reportedly eating Dollar General merchandise Sunday afternoon.

An employee of the Redwood Avenue store notified dispatch of the theft, and that the suspect was refusing to leave. She was being profane with customers and telling them that she "talks to the devil".

By the time officers arrived, she was standing outside the store. She had stolen about $30 worth of food and clothing from the store. She denied stealing the items despite having the food with her and wearing the clothes, and at one point attempted to spit on police.

Officers identified her as Angela Vasquez, she was trespassed from the store, and lodged in jail for a Jackson County Probation Detainer and charge of Third Degree Theft.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man Sunday after he violated a restraining order against him.

The suspect, Travis Gearlds, reportedly broke into the caller's home without her knowledge in the 300 block of SW Bridge Street around 11:44 a.m. He was restrained from both the property and the caller, who told dispatch Gearlds had yelled at her and asked for his keys.

She locked him out, and said he was leaving the property on foot. It was unclear which direction he went, but officers were able to contact and detain him near a Dollar General where he was found walking his dog.

Officers arrested Gearlds for Contempt of Court and First Degree Burglary. He was subsequently lodged in the Adult Jail Facility around 1:06 p.m.

 

Five suspects were trespassed from Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) property, with one being arrested Sunday.

The manager of the 218 Redwood Highway property called 911 to report the suspects in and around a vehicle in front of Parker's Place at 6:33 a.m. She requested the three suspects be trespassed from the scene.

Upon arrival, officers contacted and identified four of the five individuals. They were trespassed in lieu of being arrested for loitering on the property outside of operating hours despite a sign warning against such actions.

The fifth individual refused to identify herself, and was told she would be placed arrest for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree if she didn't identify herself. She again refused, so she was taken into custody.

Officers lodged her in jail for her Trespass charge, and were soon able to identify her as Jenifer Scott.

 

A man walking around on F Street screaming at others and throwing his scooter was arrested by Grants Pass Police Saturday.

The suspect was reported to dispatch around 5:14 p.m. He claimed to have a knife, but the 911 caller didn't see one. It was reported the suspect threw his scooter into traffic at one point, and was described as wearing a leather hat, white shirt, gray pants, a backpack, and having a long gray beard.

Officers were dispatched and located the suspect. He was identified as Jon Coldwate, and advised he had warrants and wasn't free to leave. He fled on foot, but was quickly captured.

Coldwate's warrants out of the Ashland Police Department and Oregon Parole Board charged him with First Degree Sex Abuse, and the Unlawful Delivery and Possession of Marijuana. Officers arrested Coldwate and transported him to the Josephine County Jail with an additional charge of Third Degree Escape.

He was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for medical clearance, then lodged in jail.

 

Firefighters have extended mop-up operations 50 to 100 feet into the burned area along the West Fork Evans Creek Fire, increasing containment to 35% following another night of suppression work. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District, with firelines continuing to hold around the entire perimeter, crews are building on that progress and preparing to push mop-up efforts as deep as 150 feet into the fire's interior today. The fire remains at 283 acres. Overnight crews continued locating and extinguishing areas of heat along the perimeter while also backhauling equipment and replenishing supplies to prepare for the incoming day shift. With continued progress and reduced fire activity, staffing is being adjusted to concentrate more hand crews and resources during daytime operations, allowing for a gradual reduction in overnight staffing while maintaining an effective suppression response. Today's resources include 16 20-person hand crews, one eight-person hand crew, 10 Type 6 engines, 10 water tenders and one dozer, supported by three task force leaders, six heavy equipment bosses, four additional modules and three falling modules. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity continue to provide favorable conditions for suppression efforts, helping limit fire activity and reducing the potential for further spread.