Local News

Grants Pass area firefighters extinguished a barn fire on Williams Highway late yesterday. On Tuesday at 4:42 p.m., Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 2800-block of Williams Highway near Allenwood Drive. Arriving units found an old barn ablaze with flames quickly spreading to nearby blackberry bushes and threatening homes. A coordinated effort involving multiple apparatus along with vital support from the Grants Pass Police Department helped to successfully contain the fire. Williams Highway was briefly shut down to access a hydrant across the roadway. Officials said a quick response and mitigation efforts prevented the fire from reaching nearby residences. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

Is it time to prune your trees and shrubbery? Now that we're seeing trees and shrubs leafing out, please remember to inspect them and trim branches that obstruct street signs. Grants Pass City Code requires property owners to maintain vegetation in the public right-of-way along their property. The right-of-way includes sidewalks, planting strips, curbs and gutters adjacent to city streets. The right-of-way along your property has maintenance needs. Trees and shrubs alongside streets must allow the safe passage of motor vehicles and may not limit the visibility of drivers. Low-hanging tree branches must be trimmed to a minimum of 15 feet above roadway surfaces. At corners, shrubbery must be trimmed to a maximum height of 30 inches for a distance of 20 feet from an intersection. Weeds growing in cracks or seams of sidewalks are trip hazards and must be removed. Low-hanging tree branches must be trimmed to a minimum of 8 feet above the sidewalk. Shrubs and trees must be trimmed back so they do not encroach on sidewalks. Vegetation hanging over the curb or growing in the gutter interferes with drainage and street sweeping and it must be removed. Shrubs should be trimmed back at least 6 inches from the curb. Should you have any questions, please call the Grants Pass Streets Division at (541)-450-6110.

 

Leadership positions for two local school districts and two local fire districts were decided during Tuesday night's Special Election in Josephine County, but at least one race may be too close to call after the second unofficial returns. For Grants Pass School Board Position #3, incumbent Gary Richardson appears to have held off challenger Judy Christensen by 51.55% to 47.96%, For Position #4, Quin Collins Pehrson defeated Marjie Wilkie by 60.53% to 39.13%. For Position #5, incumbent Cassie Wilkins beat challenger Tom Sheckells 65.04% to 34.22%. For Three Rivers School Board Zone 1, Cameron Camp defeated Neigel Von Hruska by 61.76% to 37.57%. For Zone 3, Mariah Rossi beat Bill Ertel by a 54.79% to 44.37% tally. The closest race of the night was in Zone 5 where Rick Nelson held a slim 50.09% to 49.08% edge over Carinn Godfrey. For Josephine County Rural Fire Protection District Board Position #5, Ralph Weidling defeated Michael Grant 58.89% to 40.59%. For Williams Rural Fire Protection District Position #3, Jim Krois triumphed over Claudia Pratt 59.79% to 39.16%. At 11 p.m. Tuesday, Josephine County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels reported the voter turnout to be 17.85%. Henkels said the next ballot returns will be released at 6 p.m. on May 28th.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office has announced that the Rogue River will be closed in designated areas and during designated times during Boatnik races. Marine deputies said all spectators must remain off the water until the races are over. All spectators must remain 50 feet from the waterway at all times. The Rogue River will be closed on Friday from 6 to 10:15 p.m. from Baker Park to Caveman Bridge. The river will closed in the same area on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10:15 p.m.. On Memorial Day, the Rogue River will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon from Baker Park to Caveman Bridge, and from noon to 3 p.m. from Baker Park to Robertson Bridge. Movement on the water during these times is restricted to law enforcement, rescue personnel and authorized race officials. Private boats are not allowed to assist with crash or rescue operations. Any unauthorized boats on the water during the closures may be cited for Reckless and Unsafe Operation and are subject to a $440 fine. Law enforcement will be patrolling the waterway during race events.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County rose by 180 jobs in April. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 32,930 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.7%, which was down sharply from 7.1% in March. Leisure & hospitality gained 80 jobs in April. Other industries posting estimated employment increases were private education & health services, and construction. Government employment slipped by 10 jobs due to a slight decline in local government education. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County was down by 640 jobs, a loss of 2.3%. The local jobless rate in April 2024 was 5%. Employment fell over the year in most private-sector industries. The most notable declines occurred in retail trade (-190), financial activities (-150), leisure & hospitality (-110), construction (-70) and wholesale trade (-50).

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a well-known offender for violating his probation by trespassing at a city park early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 38-year-old Steven Carsten Juergensen at the Grants Pass Skate Park on Monday at 8:34 a.m.. Police said officers spotted Juergensen at Baker Park from which he had been trespassed on May 10th. After he saw officers, he took off running across the Debbs Potts Memorial Bridge and into the Water Treatment Plant. He fled from there to the Skate Park where he was placed into custody. Juergensen was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass plus the resulting Probation Violation related to past arrests for Theft and Criminal Trespass. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for theft and drug possession after a shoplifting incident at Grange Co-op yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the store on West Schutzwohl Lane near Redwood Highway on Monday at 1:17 p.m.. Police said 31-year-old Elza Derado Yost intentionally deprived Grange Co-op of two hats and a shirt valued at $88 by passing all points of sale without paying. He was confronted by employees and fled the area, leaving behind his bicycle and backpack. A photo of the suspect was sent out to patrol teams who later contacted him at his residence and confirmed he was the theft suspect. He denied any involvement. During a search of his person, a small amount of methamphetamine was located. Yost was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of 3rd-Degree Theft and Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a young man for starting a fight and vandalizing a vehicle while moving out of a residence last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at a home in the 1400-block of Playford Lane on Monday at 9:10 p.m.. Police said 18-year-old Noah Moore and another man were moving out of the house when Moore instigated a physical fight with a now-former roommate. They said he also used grease to vandalize a woman's vehicle. The incident was partially captured by video surveillance and Moore was detained. Moore was charged with Attempted 4th-Degree Assault and Disorderly Conduct. He was cited to appear in court and then released from custody.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman early yesterday for returning to a city park from which she had been trespassed. According to the Police Department, officers spotted 42-year-old Rachel Annette Beeman on Monday shortly before 9 a.m. during a patrol check at Baker Park. Police said Beeman had been trespassed from the city park on May 7th, but she unlawfully returned to the facility on the Rogue River. She was placed into custody without incident. Beeman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was released on Monday evening, but warned not to return to Baker Park.