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Registration Open for New Nursing Program Cohort at Rogue Community College

After receiving approval from the state for a new Certified Nursing Assistant 2 program, Rogue Community College has opened registration for the first cohort that starts in February. The RCC program meets rigorous standards set by the Oregon State Board of Nursing and it enables students to advance from CNA1 to CNA2 certification. It will provide students with thorough training that aligns with industry standards and help them prepare for a successful and meaningful career in nursing. Throughout the program, students will delve into essential topics such as how to collaborate with the healthcare team, nutrition methods, safety risks and emergency care, legal and ethical issues, physical and mental disease processes, observation and reporting, documentation, infection control, and interpersonal skills. Students will gain practical experience during 88 hours of training that will have online and in-person components. Students will also have the opportunity to apply their skills in real-world scenarios during hands-on supervised clinical training at a local healthcare facility located in Josephine or Jackson counties. For more information, e-mail "nursingassistant@roguecc.edu."

Posted on 1/18/24 5:50AM by Sam Marsh

BCC Approves Library Annexations and Sets Date for Hearing on Fee Changes

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved five annexations to the local library district during its weekly business session this morning. Prior to a public hearing on the annexations, the Board voted to lift a 60-day moratorium on all annexations and withdrawals pertaining to the Josephine Community Library District. The library district has filed a lawsuit allowing the annexations to move forward, but preventing the Commissioners from approving any more withdrawal petitions. The state has rejected the lone approved petition. Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger voted in favor of lifting the moratorium, but said he had some reservations because "we are not through with this process." He said Oregon statutes pertaining to special districts are antiquated and need to be revised. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board approved setting a date for a public hearing on fee changes for the Animal Shelter and Recreation Department for Wednesday, January 31st at 9 a.m.. The Commissioners approved a proclamation declaring Sunday, January 21st, to be "Sanctity of Human Life and Respect for Life Day." The proclamation was received by Steve Raycraft of Josephine County Right Life who said there would not be a March for Life in Grants Pass this Sunday. A march will be held in May.

Posted on 1/17/24 11:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Woman for Physically Harassing Trio near Fast Food Restaurant

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for subjecting three people to offensive physical contact outside a local fast food restaurant early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 58-year-old Linda Jane Pattinson near Wendy's in the 1800-block of NE 6th Street on Tuesday shortly after 10 a.m.. Police said an employee at the fast food eatery called 9-1-1 to report at least three transients trying to pull a woman out of a Ford Taurus. A male subject took the woman's keys, and she responded by screaming at the man and his companions. Officers arrived on scene and an investigation determined that Pattinson punched Brian Pattinson and Christine Whitmire while striking Jordan Haas with an extension cord. None of the victims reported serious injuries. A travel lane on NE 6th Street was blocked because of the disturbance. Linda Pattinson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for three counts of Physical Harassment and one count of Disorderly Conduct. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/17/24 11:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Probation Violation by Doing Drugs at City Park

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for violating terms of her probation by doing drugs in a northwest city park early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the reported ordinance violation at Gilbert Creek Park on NW Hawthorne Avenue shortly after 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Police said a Parks Department worker called 9-1-1 after he observed 18-year-old Makailah Gayle Dunham passed out behind the concessions building with tin foil and drug paraphernalia scattered around her. The worker reported several people camped out next to the building, with a large amount of property and trash spread around them. He also said someone had defecated on the building. Dunham was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Probation Violation related to past arrests for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Attempt to Commit a Felony Crime. She was also cited for Fentanyl Possession and excluded from Gilbert Creek Park for 30 days. Her property was entered into evidence for safekeeping and a large amount of trash was removed from the park for proper disposal.

Posted on 1/17/24 11:16AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man on Felony Warrant after Shoplifting Call at Pinnacle 365

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on a local felony warrant after he was caught stealing items from a north-city gas station/convenience store early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the theft complaint at the Union 76/Pinnacle 365 on NE 6th Street shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday. Police said they contacted 25-year-old Christian Nicholas Peckham for allegedly stealing a drink, ice cream, candy and a coffee from the store. He admitted to the crime and was placed into custody. That's when officers discovered that Peckham was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Burglary and 1st-Degree Theft. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant plus a new charge of 3rd-Degree Theft. He was also trespassed from the business.

Posted on 1/17/24 11:14AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Snared GP Woman on Bench Warrant after RR Highway Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass woman on an outstanding warrant following a traffic stop that occurred on Rogue River Highway last night. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Volkswagen Jetta driven by 50-year-old Rebecca Jean Kenny on Highway 99 near Whispering Pines Lane shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday. Troopers said they stopped Kenny for a traffic violation and they discovered that she was wanted on local bench warrant for failing to appear in court. They also learned that her driving privileges had been suspended and she had no insurance. Rebecca Kenny was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where she was booked for the bench warrant. She was also issued citations for her violations and her vehicle was towed to the impound yard.

Posted on 1/17/24 11:12AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Two for City Park Violations & Arrested One on Warrants

Grants Pass Police evicted two people from a city park for violating ordinances and arrested one of them on outstanding warrants early yesterday. The Police Department reports the incident involving Samantha Brown and Bruce Hughes occurred at Riverside Park on Tuesday around 9:45 a.m.. Officers said Brown and Hughes were issued citations for Illegal Use of Park Open Space and Scattering Rubbish. Both were trespassed from the park for 30 days. Upon further investigation, it was determined that Brown was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft and 3rd-Degree Theft. She was cited to appear in court and released from detainment.

Posted on 1/17/24 11:10AM by Sam Marsh

NW GP Businesses Cleared after Hazardous Materials Left at Disposal Yard

Grants Pass Police evacuated some businesses in the northwest part of the city yesterday after hazardous materials were discarded at a waste disposal yard. The Police Department reports officers and firefighters responded to the haz-mat incident at Republic Services in the 1900-block of NW Washington Boulevard on Tuesday at 3:38 p.m.. Police officers and firefighters from the Hillcrest Station arrived on scene, started evacuating nearby businesses and assessing the situation. Once it was determined to be an extremely flammable substance, the Medford Fire Department Hazmat Team was called in to assist with identification of the substance and next steps. After the situation was resolved, all emergency units cleared the scene at 5:52 p.m.. Authorities advise residents to always seek appropriate disposal methods for any hazardous materials.

Posted on 1/17/24 11:09AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Snared CJ Woman for Multiple Crimes after Driving Recklessly on Freeway

The Oregon State Police arrested a Cave Junction woman for multiple crimes this week after she drove recklessly on Interstate 5 and into north Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Subaru XV driven by 42-year-old Jamie Ann McCalvey just off I-5 on NE Morgan Lane on Monday afternoon. Troopers said they received several calls regarding a car being driven recklessly on southbound I-5. The callers advised the vehicle was moving at variable speeds while the female driver was passing unsafely and flipping off other motorists. The same behaviors were observed by an officer who located and stopped the vehicle. Upon contact with McCalvey, troopers said she displayed multiple indicators of impairment. She refused to exit the vehicle and had to be forcefully removed. After she was placed in an OSP patrol vehicle, the suspect began to kick the door and cause damage. She refused to answer any questions or provide a breath sample. A search warrant was obtained and McCalvey was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw which documented her impairment. McCalvey was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Reckless Driving, Resisting Arrest and Criminal Mischief. She was placed on a mental hold at the hospital and her car was impounded.

Posted on 1/17/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

Investigators Suspect Impairment in Butte Falls Highway Crash that Hurt Two

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is investigating a suspected impaired driving crash that injured two people -- one seriously -- near Butte Falls yesterday. On Tuesday at 12:09 p.m., sheriff's deputies and emergency crews were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision around milepost 14 of Butte Falls Highway. Deputies said two passenger trucks collided head-on and rolled. A woman in one of the trucks was ejected and is in serious condition at a local hospital. A man in the other truck was also transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) team is investigating to determine the exact cause of the crash, but investigators suspect impairment to be a factor. None of the drivers or occupants were identified in the initial report. One lane of Butte Falls Highway was shut down while the scene was active, with Jackson County Roads handling traffic control. The closure lasted about one hour. The STAR team consists of investigators from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Medford Police Department and Central Point Police Department. This case is still under investigation.

Posted on 1/17/24 6:27AM by Sam Marsh

One Person Injured in Head-On Collision on Takilma Road in the Illinois Valley

One person was injured in a violent wreck in the Illinois Valley late yesterday. On Tuesday at 5:20 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash in the 4600-block of Takilma Road. IVFD officials said arriving units found two vehicles with major damage from a head-on collision. They said one person was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass with unspecified injuries. Both vehicles were removed by Jerry's Towing and hauled into Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of the crash.

Posted on 1/17/24 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

District Attorney Deciding Whether to File Weapons Charge against GP Woman

The Josephine County District Attorney's Office was deciding whether to charge a convicted felon with a weapons crime after she was allegedly struck by a vehicle on Redwood Highway in the southern Illinois Valley. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to a Monday night incident involving a woman hit by a vehicle near milepost 38 of US Highway 199. Troopers said 48-year-old Grace Helen Polk of Grants Pass was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries. They said a firearm was found in her purse and she was found to have prior felony convictions. According to the report, Polk stated that she was not actually hit by a car. She said that she stole the pistol and was assaulted by the owner of the gun. A charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm was referred to the DA's Office for consideration. The case is ongoing.

Posted on 1/17/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

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