Local News

The Josephine Community Library District is once again calling on the Board of Commissioners to renew the lease for the Grants Pass library building on NW C Street, the library's home since 1959. In a formal letter sent this week, the library district reiterated its request for a five-year extension at $1 per year -- identical to the terms submitted to the Board on March 25th. In the letter delivered by JCLD's legal counsel, the district stated that this modest lease renewal would satisfy the mandate under Section 14.5 of the County Charter to support and maintain the main library and its branches. Library Attorney Mark Bartholomew said the obligation applies to the library district just as much as now as when the library was a county department. The Board this week authorized Commissioner Chris Barnett to negotiate directly with the library district. The district is hopeful that this step will help move the lease renewal forward and bring an end to "this unnecessary and unfair saga." The Board voted to terminate the lease on January 6th with 30 days' notice and has failed to respond substantively or engage in direct negotiations.

 

Hearts with a Mission (HWAM) is pleased to announce it is expanding services in Josephine County to include its "Hearts for Seniors" program and is now accepting senior referrals and volunteer inquiries. "Hearts for Seniors" will be a support to seniors 65 and older who are living in isolation within their homes as they may not have family support or resources. Companion care is their primary service. Some secondary services may include a variety of practical helps such as weekly meal preparation, light housekeeping tasks, rides to appointments, and simply providing a listening and compassionate ear. Secondary services are provided subject to the availability and willingness of volunteers and are not guaranteed. The Hearts for Seniors program has been successful in Jackson County with nearly 100 seniors paired with volunteers who meet weekly, or who provide one-time services such as yard cleanup, small repair projects and installation of grab bars. Consider submitting a volunteer application or referring a senior community member today at "heartswithamission.org/hearts-for-seniors."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners opened its business session this morning by proclaiming May 11th-17th to be "National Police Week." All three Commissioners then signed the proclamation and presented it to Sheriff Dave Daniel and Grants Pass Police Chief Warren Hensman who thanked the Board and the community for their ongoing support. Next Tuesday, May 13th, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Grants Pass Police Department and Oregon State Police will honor the six local officers who made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives while on duty. The event will take place at 10 a.m. in front of the Courthouse in Grants Pass. The lone Administrative Action item on the agenda was an order defining the responsibilities of the County Road Official. The designated official is identified as Neil Burgess who is the the Josephine County Engineer. Burgess's responsibilities include standing operating procedures such as Maintenance, Permitting Authority, Traffic and Safety Operations. They also include approving easements, street plug placement, removal and crossings, minor road closures and road inventory management as well as the release of liens and bonding. During the Public Comment period, several people spoke in favor of removing objectionable books and materials out of local libraries. At least two people complained about private security who allegedly harassed those gathered for a public protest at the Courthouse on May 1st. A representative of American Mineral Research promoted the utilization of the "vast" mineral wealth of Josephine County.to help pay for law enforcement.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department deployed its SWAT team to help end a three-hour standoff with a felony suspect at a residence near the high school yesterday. On Wednesday at 10:12 a.m., the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received a call regarding a disturbance at a home on NE 8th Street that led to a male suspect threatening to kill a woman with a knife, attempting to stab her and then spraying her with mace as he fled the scene. The female victim reported that the suspect -- 51-year-old Barney Adam Clem -- left on foot wearing a bright orange shirt. Officers arrived in the area and observed Clem walking on NE B Street. As officers called for him to stop, he quickly entered a B Street residence that is considered by GPPD to be a nuisance. Calls for Clem to exit the home went unanswered and officers received permission to search the residence. During the initial search, they found 36-year-old Bryan William Suthann hiding in a bedroom. Suthann was wanted for Probation Violation and was in possession of methamphetamine. He was lodged in jail. Sounds were heard inside the residence indicating someone was moving around, but Clem could not safely be located. Due to potential safety issues, GPPD SWAT was called to the scene. Following a lengthy search with numerous canisters of irritant being deployed in the attic and under the house, Clem finally emerged from the crawlspace and surrendered. Clem was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Use of Pepper Spray and Escape plus a local warrant charging him with two counts of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 1st-Degree Theft. The District Attorney's Office was asked to consider adding Attempted Assault charges.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing a disturbance near the downtown Safeway last night. According to the Police Department, officers were dispatched to multiple reports of bad behavior near the corner of SE 8th and G streets at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday. Police said 42-year-old David Brian Rich was called in for causing a disturbance near the intersection. A victim reported that Rich had unlawfully blocked traffic by standing in the roadway and stopping motorists from passing. The suspect struck one driver's foldable mirror with a closed fist, causing it to fold inward. Rich reportedly fled into Safeway and caused alarm by yelling that he was struck by a car and robbed. Officers arrived on scene and placed him into custody. Rich was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a statewide felony warrant and for using narcotics in a public place yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a male subject openly smoking fentanyl on the east side of Fred Meyer on Wednesday at 2:18 p.m.. Police said they were able to identify the subject as 30-year-old Dylan James Wilson who was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. He was placed into custody a short time later in the 200-block of NE B Street. Wilson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus Possession of Fentanyl. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for drug possession and cited a man for city ordinance violations during a patrol check at a city park early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers observed 42-year-old Rachel Annette Beeman holding a glass pipe that contained a crystal-like substance at Baker Park on Wednesday shortly before 10 a.m.. Beeman was placed into custody for Methamphetamine Possession and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The meth and drug paraphernalia were seized. Shane McCombs was cited for Drug Paraphernalia in a City Park and Scattering Rubbish. He was trespassed from the park for 30 days.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed a vehicle near Selma late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the 1900-block of Reeves Creek Road at 5:35 p.m. Wednesday. Deputies said an investigation indicated that 42-year-old Rell Allen Baty was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Traverse when he went off the north side of the road. They said Baty displayed signs of impairment and was acting belligerent with emergency responders. According to the report, Baty performed poorly in field sobriety tests, a search warrant was obtained and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of impairment. He was lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle was impounded. Deputies noted that Baty threatened to kill them and their families when he is released from jail. He was flagged for threatening law enforcement.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Cave Junction woman for impaired driving last night after a traffic stop on Redwood Highway in southwest Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Mini Cooper driven by 53-year-old Jennifer Denise Cochran on US Highway 199 near Allen Creek Road on Wednesday at 7:21 p.m.. Troopers said they received multiple calls about a motorist having difficulty maintaining their travel lane and driving into oncoming traffic. They located the vehicle, pulled it over and contacted Cochran who displayed signs of impairment. She consented to perform field sobriety tests, but was unable to complete them. Cochran refused to provide a breath sample so a search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that showed impairment by both alcohol and narcotics. Cochran was lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Controlled Substances as well as Reckless Driving. Her vehicle was impounded and her dog was taken to the Animal Shelter.