Local News

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple felony-level crimes this week after a fight between at least two male transients broke out in the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 35-year-old Anthony John Gambale, IV, for the incident in the 400-block of SE 7th Street on Tuesday night. Police said Gambale intentionally caused physical injury to another man by punching him several times in the head. They said he was aided by another male subject who has yet to be identified. The victim had pain and swelling, but denied medical attention or transport to the hospital. During the altercation, Gambale took the victim's backpack which he claimed contained over $3,000 in personal items. The suspect was located several blocks away, but he did not have possession of the backpack and refused to speak about it. He is a convicted felon and was found to be in possession of some weapons. Anthony Gambale was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 3rd-Degree Assault, Felony 3rd-Degree Robbery, Felony 1st-Degree Theft and two counts of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. He was being held without bail.

 

A Grants Pass motorist is facing numerous charges after he crashed into the back of another vehicle on Redwood Highway this week. Grants Pass Police and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision on US Highway 199 at Ringuette Street on Tuesday night. Police said 31-year-old Nicholas Thomas Ryder was both impaired and suspended while driving his truck with his two juvenile children inside. They said he crashed into the back of a vehicle that was lawfully stopped at a red light at the intersection. Fortunately, no one in either vehicle was hurt. Upon contact with officers, Ryder displayed numerous indicators of impairment including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol. His truck was disabled in the center of the highway and his children were escorted to safety at the nearby Dairy Queen. Ryder refused to participate in sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that revealed impairment by alcohol. After providing a breath sample at the Josephine County Jail, Ryder was booked for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Felony Driving While Revoked, five counts of Reckless Endangering and Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for Felony Driving While Suspended. He was also cited for No Insurance.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for causing a disturbance at a local church this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident at Redwood Christian Church in the 4900-block of Redwood Avenue on Tuesday night. Deputies said a woman called the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center to report that 32-year-old Derick Licona Weinhold was involved in an altercation at the church and he used a baton to smash all the windows out of a minivan parked there. The caller said the suspect took off running down Redwood Avenue. An investigation determined that Weinhold -- for unknown reasons -- vandalized his own vehicle. The damaged vehicle was moved off the church premises. Weinhold was placed into custody at a nearby property and he was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

Multiple fire agencies responded to reported explosions that rocked a Hugo area neighborhood early yesterday. On Wednesday at 5:37 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue were dispatched to the incident on Jess Way near Three Pines Road. Crews arrived to find two recreational vehicles fully-involved with flames after what was initially believed to be a structure fire. No occupants were located and no injuries were reported. Rural Metro officials said the cause of the RV fires has not been determined.

 

There's a reason you may have seen several green fire trucks running around in the North Valley Industrial Park the past two weekends. Rural Metro Fire Department has been conducting its annual Apparatus Operator Class for six firefighters who are learning the next phase of the job. Keeping with requirements of National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA) 1002, which is the standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications, the student firefighters have been navigating about 10 different engines and water tenders through cone courses, and working to perfect pumping and water supply operations. Through heavy rain and bright sunshine, the class has commenced the last two weekends in the local industrial park as it provides relatively quiet streets that pose few traffic issues. Rural Metro officials said the next phase of the class includes over-the-road driving practice. Motorists can expect to see the green fire apparatus out and about as the students put in many hours of required drive-time.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved new fee schedules for the Animal Shelter and Recreation Department during its weekly business session on Wednesday. The Board voted 2-0 to approve the fee changes following a public hearing. Commissioner Dan DeYoung was absent. Finance Director Sandy Novak testified that the fee adjustments were made so users will pay for most services from Josephine County instead of the bills being footed by taxpayers. The Animal Shelter fee schedule will increase slightly for adoptions while the Parks Department will increase fees for some campground services, and various plot sales for Granite Hill Cemetery will start in March. Josephine County Public Health Director Mike Weber made a presentation on the Animal Shelter by stating it is hampered by aging infrastructure, a lack of funding and inadequate staffing. In a comparison with 15 similar facilities, the local shelter had the 3rd-highest number of animal intakes and the 3rd-lowest level of funding with the lowest ratio of staff per animal. Weber unveiled a proposed Animal Shelter Levy to upgrade the facility and services. The total cost would be 47 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value including 27.6 cents for operations and 19.4 cents for the facility. The operations portion of the levy would continue for five years while the facility portion would cease after an Oregon Business Loan is paid off.

 

The Rogue Valley Council of Governments (RVCOG) has opened a needs assessment survey for older adults and adults with disabilities. RVCOG is the Area Agency on Aging for Jackson and Josephine counties. RVCOG's Senior and Disability Services and Senior Nutrition departments conduct a survey every four years to assess area needs. RVCOG officials encourage citizens to share their experiences and opinions with them by completing the survey. Your input will assist them in planning for the future needs of older adults and adults with disabilities in Southern Oregon. The information you provide will be used to prioritize programs, services and supports in their 2025-2029 Area Plan. The survey should take about 15 minutes of your time to complete. No identifying information is being collected and your responses are confidential. At the conclusion of the survey, you will be asked if you would like to participate in a drawing for a $50 VISA gift card. The survey closes on March 1, 2024. For more information, visit "rvcog.org."

 

The Oregon State Fire Marshal's commitment to wildfire resilience is yielding significant successes from wildfire risk reduction grants and investments in local communities. This innovative funding approach allows communities across the state to develop local solutions to reduce wildfire impact. It was made possible by Senate Bill 762. Among the triumphs are 22 strategic investments totaling more than $2.6 million and 106 Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant projects amounting to $18 million. These funds were used to empower communities, fostering a collaborative spirit in the face of increasing wildfire risks. The City of Jacksonville undertook a significant project in Forest Park, leveraging investment funds from the OSFM. The city created substantial fuel breaks by thinning dense brushlands, pruning trees and removing debris, safeguarding public spaces. This one-time funding is part of a multi-pronged approach to the OSFM's efforts in rising to the challenge of wildfire.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved new fee schedules for the Animal Shelter and Recreation Department during its weekly business session this morning. The Board voted 2-0 to approve the fee changes following a public hearing. Commissioner Dan DeYoung was absent. Finance Director Sandy Novak testified that the fee adjustments were made so users will pay for most services from Josephine County instead of the bills being footed by taxpayers. The Animal Shelter fee schedule will increase slightly for adoptions while the Parks Department will increase fees for some campground services, and various plot sales for Granite Hill Cemetery will start in March. Josephine County Public Health Director Mike Weber made a presentation on the Animal Shelter by stating it is hampered by aging infrastructure, a lack of funding and inadequate staffing. In a comparison with 15 similar facilities, the local shelter had the 3rd-highest number of animal intakes and the 3rd-lowest level of funding with the lowest ratio of staff per animal. Weber testified that the current shelter across from the Grants Pass Airport has the same number of kennels as it had in 1978 while the number of animal intakes has increased dramatically. He said the septic and drainage systems are outdated and the concrete walls are cracking and crumbling, adding that a rehabilitated facility is desperately needed. Weber unveiled a proposed Animal Shelter Levy to upgrade the facility and services. The total cost would be 47 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value including 27.6 cents for operations and 19.4 cents for the facility. The operations portion of the levy would continue for five years while the facility portion would cease after an Oregon Business Loan is paid off. As part of the Consent Calendar, Karl Haeckler was appointed to a three-year term on the Josephine County Fair Board and Chip Dennerlein was reappointed to a four-year term on the Bikeways & Walkways Committee.