Local News

Grants Pass Police Officers reported to a man causing a verbal disturbance Tuesday evening.

At 6:43 p.m., a call came in to dispatch reporting a male potentially moaning in distress in the parking lot across from Rogue Cleaners and Laundromat at 228 SE K Street. The caller couldn't tell if the man was injured or coming down from a high.

Officers arrived and contacted the suspect, Kelcey Cummings, in front of River City Grill. He was found to be wanted on three GPPD warrants.

Cummings charges included Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, Second Degree Criminal Trespass, Third Degree Escape, and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. He was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was alerted to a man entering properties and vehicles unlawfully early Tuesday morning.

Dispatch received a call at 1:30 a.m. from a caller saying the suspect rang their doorbell several times in 2400 block of Lonnon Way. He had passed gates and fences to enter the property.

The suspect then walked down the driveway to the neighbor's house. The caller wanted the man trespassed if contact was made.

Dispatch then received a second call regarding the same suspect entering two separate vehicles, only to later sleep inside one of them. Deputies arrived and identified Tony Martinez as the suspect.

Martinez was contacted and taken into custody for two counts each of Second Degree Criminal Trespass, and Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail without incident.

 

The Grants Pass City Council will consider resolutions for 2026 Water user rates, the purchase of real property, plus new job descriptions and classification plan amendments during tonight's meeting. The council will then make a motion appointing one member to the Urban Tree Advisory Committee. Following the public comment period, the consent agenda will include authorizations for the City Manager and meeting minute acknowledgments. After Mayor, Council, and Staff Comments, the meeting will adjourn, and the Urban Renewal Agency Meeting will convene. Board action will include a resolution amending a resolution awarding Scopa Properties, LLC an Urban Renewal Building Rehabilitation and Restoration grant for property at 221 SE 6th Street. The City Council Meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 101 NW A Street, and will stream live at www.grantspassoregon.gov.

 

Oregon State Police responded to a fatal, single-vehicle crash on Highway 238, near milepost 8, in Josephine County Monday morning. On November 3, at 12:20 a.m., the preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Subaru Impreza, operated by Alexander Ray Yager, 21, of Grants Pass, failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway, struck a power pole, and rolled several times before catching fire. Yager was able to escape and was transported to an area hospital with reported minor injuries. The passenger, Jacob Dean Mix, 36, of Grants Pass, was declared deceased at the scene. The highway was impacted for approximately eight hours during the on-scene investigation. Impairment and speed are considered primary factors in causing the crash. OSP was assisted by ODOT.

 

Josephine County Republican Central Committee officers, delegates, and numerous Precinct Committee Persons (PCPs) submitted their resignations on the County Courthouse steps this morning at 9 a.m. The outgoing officers cited alleged widespread misinformation, unethical conduct, and a breakdown of transparency as key reasons for their decision to step down. The resignations include officers, Chair Joseph Rice, Vice Chair Skip Welles, Secretary Karen Arzner, Treasurer Donna Nicely, Delegate II Mark Woods, and Parliamentarian Jonathan Knapp, along with all appointed leadership positions and a growing number of PCPs. There are 45 resignations, with more reportedly expected to follow. The group emphasized that their departure is not a surrender of conservative values but rather a stand for them.

 

A truck carrying large pipe rolled over on Interstate 5 near milepost 71, blocking both northbound lanes Monday evening. Rural Metro Fire and AMR responded to the scene. The driver, who had non-life-threatening injuries, was treated and then transported to Three Rivers Medical Center. Traffic was stopped for a time until the Oregon Department of Transportation could devise a plan to move the pipe, opening at least one lane. An Oregon State Police investigation determined the semi was in the slow lane when its load shifted, causing it to overturn and roll. The semi was towed from the scene.

 

Grants Pass Fire and Rescue has extended the burn permits issued in the city for October 25th through November 2nd.

These approved permits are now valid until Sunday, November 9th. No new burn permits will be approved during this extension.

In a release from Grants Pass Fire and Rescue, during the originally scheduled open burn window, the Department of Environmental Quality did not approve any burn days. Additionally, there were communication issues related to the DEQ's burn information line.

Burning is only allowed if the DEQ ventilation index for the airshed is 400 or greater. It is the responsibility of each person to check the airshed before burning.

The most up-to-date airshed information is available by calling the Burn Line at 541-476-9663.

For additional information or questions, please call the Fire Prevention Department at 541-450-6200.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a woman on a felony warrant after a traffic stop Monday afternoon.

Troopers stopped a vehicle at 1:16 p.m. in front of the Rays in Selma for traffic violations. The driver of the vehicle then fled into a bathroom inside the grocery store.

Upon contacting the suspect, Jessica Pitts, troopers returned her to her vehicle where she provided false information. She was found to have a Failure to Appear Bench warrant out for her arrest.

Pitts was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was alerted to a disturbance involving a homeless man asking for money and making stabbing threats Monday afternoon.

At 3:52 p.m., a caller told dispatch that a transient was asking for money at the Shell Station at 397 Old Highway 99 in Wolf Creek. When confronted by the caller and asked to leave the property, the homeless man said he would stab him.

The caller told dispatch the transient was going in and out of the service station repeatedly, continued to harass customers for money, and was extremely intoxicated.

Deputies arrived and contacted the homeless man, identifying him as Troy Enloe. He was found to be wanted on a Jackson County Sheriff's Office warrant for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, and a Medford Police Department warrant for Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle.

Enloe was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the out-of-county warrants.