Local News

US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced counties throughout Oregon will receive a combined total of more than $31 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2025. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT funding helps to defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services. PILT compensates counties for tax-exempt federal lands administered by agencies including the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation and US Army Corps of Engineers. Payments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction and the population of that county or jurisdiction. Here in Southern Oregon, Jackson County will receive more than $2 million while Josephine County will receive about $1.7 million. Curry County will receive just over $1 million and Douglas County will get around $830,000. Individual payments may vary from year to year as a result of changes in acreage data, prior-year federal revenue-sharing payments reported annually by the governor of each state, and inflationary adjustments using the Consumer Price Index and population data.

 

An Oregon community college president is hitting the pavement this summer to spotlight a critical issue -- the basic needs of community college students. On June 16th, Clackamas Community College President Tim Cook -- an avid marathoner -- set off on a bold challenge to run to every community college in Oregon. That's more than 1,500 miles over 50 days, averaging 32 miles per day. On Thursday at 9 a.m., President Cook will run into the Marjorie Holzgang Concert Bowl at Rogue Community College's Redwood Campus in Grants Pass where he will be met with cheers from local staff, students and faculty. The Running for Oregon Community College Students (ROCCS) campaign is a statewide awareness and fundraising initiative to highlight the challenges facing today's students and to advocate for increased state funding. RCC Board Member Pat Fahey has pledged to match up to $5,000 in contributions to the RCC Foundation, which is collecting funds to support RCC students facing financial hardship. To donate, please visit "roguecc.edu/foundation."

 

Multiple agencies responded to a multiple-casualty incident that occurred over the weekend on Redwood Highway near Selma. The Oregon State Police, Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon Department of Transportation were dispatched to a three-vehicle crash in the 17,900-block of US Highway 199 on Saturday around 3:45 p.m.. State troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated a northbound truck pulling a trailer crossed the center line of the highway and nearly collided head-on with a southbound vehicle. The truck driver was not identified in the report and may have fled the scene. Three other southbound vehicles -- a Jeep Wrangler driven by 28-year-old Mario Hernandez-Diaz of Central Point, a Volvo sedan driven by Tana Leah Rich of Wolf Creek and a vehicle driven by 64-year-old John Walter Griffith of Millcreek, Utah -- all tried to avoid the collision, but were unable to stop in time and rear-ended each other. IVFD officials said a total of 12 individuals were assessed by medical personnel and three individuals were transported by ambulances to local hospitals including Three Rivers Medical Center. With assistance from ODOT, emergency first responders worked to expedite the reopening of the highway after it was completely shut down by the incident. At least two of the vehicles were removed by Jerry's Towing of Cave Junction.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for violating a court order early yesterday after he unlawfully entered a downtown area home and physically harassed a woman who is legally protected from him. The Police Department reports 36-year-old Ryan Anthony Caropreso was arrested for the incident in the 600-block of SE 8th Street on Sunday around 1 a.m.. Police said Caropreso violated an active restraining order when he unlawfully and without permission entered the residence of the protected woman. They said he refused to listen to the woman and leave the premises. When the woman tried to walk away from him, the suspect grabbed her and pulled her toward him. Caropreso left the home and walked toward his residence on SW Greenwood Drive where he was detained. He refused to answer any questions or provide a statement, so he was placed into custody. Ryan Caropreso was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Burglary, Physical Harassment and Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order at least 22 times in one day over the weekend. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a domestic disturbance near River Valley Church on NE 6th Street on Saturday at 7:17 p.m.. Police said a woman who is homeless and living in her car called 9-1-1 to report that 38-year-old Keagan David Robison had attempted to call her several times on Saturday. The woman said she has active restraining and stalking orders protecting her from the suspect. Officers obtained photos of the victim's recent call log, showing Robison had been calling her from his personal phone. They tracked down the suspect and placed him into custody before contacting his corrections officer. Robison was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 11 counts each of Restraining Order Violation and Stalking Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for drug possession during a weekend shoplifting caper at Walmart. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the theft complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Saturday at about 2:50 p.m.. Police said 30-year-old Apolonio Fidel Mendez and 38-year-old Rachel May Lowden were inside Walmart when Mendez intentionally deprived the store of $15.56 by concealing razor blades and passing all points of sale. He also used a barcode of a lower-priced item to scan higher-priced items. Mendez and Lowden were detained by loss prevention just outside Walmart. He wouldn't listen to lawful commands, so officers forced him to the ground in a controlled manner. During a consent search, he was found with a glass pipe with residue that field tested positive as methamphetamine. In a consent search of Lowden's purse, more than 20 grams of meth was located and seized for destruction. Mendez was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and Petty Theft. Lowden was cited to appear in court for Meth Possession and released.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing nearly $350 worth of merchandise from Walmart. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the shoplifting call at the store on NE Terry Lane on Saturday at 11:10 a.m.. Police said 23-year-old Jaxon David Schatza deprived Walmart of $348.70 worth of items including an Exacto knife, American flags, ice chests and posters while wearing a stolen shirt. Schatza was contacted by officers at Taco Bell near the Grants Pass Parkway and placed into custody after admitting to the heist. He was lodged at the nearby jail facility for 2nd-Degree Theft and was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man they described as "a frequent and unapologetic" drug user for narcotics possession at a city park on Independence Day. The Police Department reports officers were performing a patrol check at Baker Park on Friday afternoon when they contacted 50-year-old Jesse John Beier. Police said they observed Beier in his tent and found him to be in possession of a pipe with residue that field tested positive as methamphetamine. The pipe was seized and logged into evidence. Beier was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and he was trespassed from the park for 30 days. His belongings were left in the care of his brother who also resides at the park.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for violating his probation after arresting him on an outstanding warrant in the north part of the city late last week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 34-year-old Zane Raynier Hatcher near the corner of NE 7th Street and Midland Avenue on Friday at 1:55 p.m.. Police said they observed Hatcher walking along 7th Street and they knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Possession of Methamphetamine. He was placed into custody and his corrections officer was contacted. Hatcher was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus the resulting Felony Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.