Local News

The Oregon State Police cited a California truck driver for overturning a fuel tanker trailer on Redwood Highway near Wilderville last weekend. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle crash on US Highway 199 near Round Prairie Road on Sunday at about 12:25 p.m.. Troopers said evidence at the scene, driver and witness statements indicated the driver of the semi -- a 59-year-old Klamath, California, man -- left the highway after falling asleep at the wheel. They said he overcorrected to get the semi and trailer back onto the roadway, causing the tanker trailer to tip over. According to OSP, an unknown amount of gasoline and diesel fuel spilled from the tanker and into a pond on a nearby property. The property owner was identified as a 73-year-old Wilderville man. Rural Metro firefighters assisted crews from the Oregon Department of Transportation with spill containment and cleanup. The heavy recovery team from Caveman Towing hauled the damaged trailer into Grants Pass. Redwood Highway was completely shut down for more than three hours and traffic movement was slow after that due to a huge backup of vehicles. Following the investigation, the unhurt trucker was cited for unspecified violations.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested three motorists for impaired driving in Josephine County last weekend. According to OSP, the first incident occurred on Friday when troopers pulled over a Dodge Dakota for speeding on Merlin Road near Allman Drive. Troopers said the 47-year-old male driver displayed signs of impairment and was placed into custody. He was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was more than twice the legal driving limit. The second incident happened late Friday night when troopers pulled over a Ford Ranger driven by a 42-year-old Cave Junction man on Redwood Highway at Schuler Street. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for multiple traffic violations and the driver showed signs of impairment. The third incident took place on Saturday night when troopers pulled over a Ford sport utility vehicle driven by a 66-year-old Wilderville man near milepost 6 of Redwood Highway. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for multiple violations and the driver exhibited signs of impairment by both alcohol and drugs.

 

In a span of just 34 minutes on Monday, the Illinois Valley Fire District responded to two illegal open burns. At 3:01 p.m., IVFD and the Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to an illegal outdoor burn on Hogue Drive off Redwood Highway in Selma. Arriving units found a 15-by-20-foot spot burn that had spread due to the wind. The fire was quickly extinguished and the responsible party was cited. At 3:35 p.m., IVFD and ODF were dispatched to an illegal burn at Airport Drive and Westside Road near Cave Junction. Arriving units found the property owner burning trash. The fire was extinguished and the responsible party was cited.

 

The Grants Pass City Council decided to put off decisions on Caveman Pool, the creation of an Urban Renewal Agency Task Force and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding during its bi-weekly workshop session on Monday. Grants Pass Parks Superintendent Josh Hopkins opened the workshop with a presentation on building a new Caveman Pool, including a cost overview and next options. The City Council has received the options from Robertson Sherwood Architects (RSA), which had a representative attend the workshop by phone. Hopkins said the estimated cost to rebuild the pool in its current location near Grants Pass High School is more than $10.2 million, but RSA recommends a budget of nearly $13.6 million including recreational amenities and a built-in markup due to rising construction costs. Members of the Grants Pass Family YMCA were also in attendance and they have proposed a partnership with the city to build a new facility including a swimming pool on the south side of the Rogue River. Right now, the City of Grants Pass has earmarked a total of $6.3 million for the pool including funding options of ARPA, the Urban Renewal Agency (URA) and a potential general obligation bond. The City Council also decided to hold off on evaluating and reallocating the $9.3 million in ARPA funding until after a decision is made on the pool.

 

Today is the deadline to register to vote in the May primary election. It's also the deadline to register with a political party ahead of the closed primaries. Voters can register or update their registrations online at "oregonvotes.gov" until 11:59 p.m. tonight. The Republican and Democratic parties have chosen to hold closed primaries, which means only registered members of those parties will be available to vote in the primaries. All voters -- regardless of party affiliation -- will receive ballots with nonpartisan contests and ballot measures. Minor parties hold their own nominating process and their candidates will appear on the November General Election ballot. Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade said they've worked together to build the most convenient and secure voting system in the country and that starts with registering to vote. She said registration takes only a few minutes. Election Day is May 21st. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. or postmarked on that day to be counted. They are scheduled to be sent out to voters on Wednesday.

 

Gain valuable experience this summer as a seasonal employee of the City of Grants Pass. If you enjoy working outside and experiencing new challenges, there are several openings for seasonal employment. Positions are available in various departments. Wage for seasonal employees is $14.20 an hour. For a qualified driver of at least age 18, the wage is $15.45 an hour. An age restriction of 18 applies to flaggers and driving city vehicles. Job openings are available in the Parks, Water Distribution, Water Filtration and Finance Departments. Jobs include grounds maintenance, painting, replacement of residential water meters, remote water pumping stations and office tasks including but not limited to filing, organizing, assembling budget books, data entry and cash handling. Recruitment will remain open until May 31st unless positions are filled before this date. For more information, visit "humanresources@grantspassoregon.gov" or you can call (541)-450-6050.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon late last week for hurting a woman and then taking the keys out of her vehicle. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 32-year-old male subject at Taser point in the 300-block of NE Terry Lane on Friday around 10:30 a.m.. Police said the man intentionally caused physical injury to the female victim when he forcibly took the keys out of her vehicle and left the scene. He reportedly came back while officers were interviewing the victim and attempted to flee on foot. He was ordered to stop, but kept running until he eventually surrendered. According to the report, the woman sustained minor injuries and refused medical treatment. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 4th-Degree Assault, Felony 3rd-Degree Robbery and 3rd-Degree Escape as well as the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman twice in the North Valley area over the weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports the first incident occurred on Friday afternoon when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 7200-block of Monument Drive. Deputies said a 33-year-old female subject pushed a man against the wall and started throwing things at him. The man was not seriously hurt, but he wanted to press charges and the woman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment. On Saturday afternoon, the woman returned to the residence even though she consented to a no-contact agreement upon her release from jail. Jail deputies repeatedly told the woman she would be arrested if she returned to the home. Deputies returned to the rural property and placed the suspect into custody. This time, she was charged with Violation of a Court Order and lodged in jail without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman twice in the North Valley area over the weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports the first incident occurred on Friday afternoon when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 7200-block of Monument Drive. Deputies said a 33-year-old female subject pushed a man against the wall and started throwing things at him. The man was not seriously hurt, but he wanted to press charges and the woman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment. On Saturday afternoon, the woman returned to the residence even though she consented to a no-contact agreement upon her release from jail. Jail deputies repeatedly told the woman she would be arrested if she returned to the home. Deputies returned to the rural property and placed the suspect into custody. This time, she was charged with Violation of a Court Order and lodged in jail without bail.