Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue (SAR) Division is hosting its annual Academy to train new volunteers starting next month. The Search & Rescue Academy -- which is held at 250 Tech Way north of Grants Pass -- covers Basic Survival Skills, First Aid/CPR, Land Navigation and more. Completion of the academy qualifies participants as SAR volunteers and allows them to actively participate in trainings and missions. The cost for the academy is $55. Additional requirements include a background check, criminal history check, personal equipment purchase and a $50 refundable uniform deposit. The SAR Academy runs from February 20th through March 21st. It's held every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. There is a final overnight exercise scheduled for April. For registration and more details, visit "bit.ly/3RQah1J."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the annexation of five properties into the local library district as part of its weekly business session tomorrow. The Board had delayed these annexation requests last month by putting a hold on all annexations and withdrawals from the Josephine Community Library District while it gathered more information on the legality of the process. Since that time, the library district has filed a lawsuit against the Commissioners preventing them from approving any more withdrawals from the district. The one withdrawal it approved in December has been rejected by the State of Oregon. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board is expected to set a public hearing to consider fee changes for the Animal Shelter and Recreation Department, which covers Parks and the Josephine County Fairgrounds. In addition to a proclamation, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when people are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for two felony crimes and an outstanding warrant after investigating a trespassing call in the Illinois Valley late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a complaint involving 60-year-old Timothy Joe Cross in the 4300-block of Caves Highway on Monday around 4:40 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that Cross was back on her property after he had been served with a restraining order the day before. She said a man named "Mike" had chased the suspect off the property and that he retreated onto nearby BLM land. Cross was cornered by the other man until deputies arrived. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Cross and discovered that he was wanted on a Crook County warrant for Probation Violation related to previous arrests for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Driving While Suspended. Timothy Cross was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant. Since his booking, charges of Felony 2nd-Degree Assault, Felony Coercion and Interfering with Making a Police Report were added to his criminal bill. However, no information on those crimes was disclosed.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on a local felony warrant following a patrol check in the downtown area late last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 54-year-old Michael Lewis Swift in the 100-block of NE E Street near Oregon Books & Games on Monday at 11:22 p.m.. Police said they were on patrol when they spotted Swift and knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for an alleged crime of Methamphetamine Possession. He was placed into custody after the warrant was confirmed with the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center. Michael Swift was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and he was still in custody this morning.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for causing a violent disturbance at Fred Meyer last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint involving 33-year-old Lillian Miller at the store along the Grants Pass Parkway on Monday shortly after 7 p.m.. Police said Miller was reported to be yelling at loss prevention and patrons while refusing to leave. They said she told everyone she was the CEO of Fred Meyer, accused individuals of assaulting her and sparked a physical disturbance with an unknown subject while on the store property. Miller fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement, but she was refused entry at the nearby Arco AM/PM and then fled from officers onto the Parkway where she once again tried to run away. She resisted being placed into custody, but was eventually subdued and handcuffed. Lillian Miller was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for disrupting traffic in the north part of the city yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a complaint involving 50-year-old Shannon Leann Petersen in the 1300-block of NW 6th Street on Monday around 1:40 p.m.. Police said a local business owner reported that Petersen was walking in the middle of the roadway and causing vehicles to swerve and hit their brakes to avoid hitting her. The caller said she was walking in circles while picking up dirt and other items before crossing the street to the corner of 6th and Steiger streets. When officers contacted Petersen at that location, she gave them a false name -- but her true identity was confirmed. Her corrections officer was contacted and he agreed to place her on a detainer. Shannon Petersen was booked into the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and she was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested at least two people for impaired driving over long holiday weekend. OSP reports the first incident occurred on Saturday at 1 a.m. when state troopers pulled over a Honda Civic driven by 29-year-old Frank Calzada near the corner of 7th and B streets in Grants Pass. Troopers said Calzada was stopped for driving without headlights in the downtown area. They said he displayed signs of impairment, performed badly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. He was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving. The second incident happened on Saturday at 7:50 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Nissan Sentra driven by 43-year-old Rene Faye Pruitt near the corner of NE F and Mill streets in Grants Pass. Troopers said they stopped Pruitt for driving the wrong direction on a one-way street. They said she appeared to be impaired and was asked to perform sobriety tests, which she did poorly. She was taken to the Sobering Center where she was charged with DUII and Reckless Endangering.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted two campers from city parks during patrol checks early yesterday. At Westholm Park, officers noticed that Austin Cecil was still there after a 72-hour notice was given to him last week. He was cited for Illegal Camping and Scattering Rubbish before being trespassed from the park for 30 days. Two trashed and abandoned tents at Westholm Park were taken to Southern Oregon Sanitation (SOS) for proper disposal. At Baker Park, Andrew Urenda and Jonathon Babb were cited for Illegal Camping after being there past their 72-hour notices. Urenda was also cited for Buffer Zone Violation and issued a 30-day exclusion. Dakota Thomas was warned for Buffer Zone Violation. Three truckloads of garbage at the park were picked up and disposed of at SOS.

 

A two-alarm fire in the Jerome Prairie area last night brought multiple agencies to a fully-involved shop being used as an automotive repair business. On Monday at 6:02 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and American Medical Response were dispatched to the reported structure fire in the 5500-block of Jerome Prairie Road. Two vehicles inside the shop along with miscellaneous tools and equipment were lost in the blaze. However, several vehicles parked outside were pushed away from the building and not seriously damaged. The main house on the property was not damaged and there were no injuries reported. Rural Metro officials said investigators would return to the scene this morning to look into the cause of the fire. Agencies assisting at the scene included the Illinois Valley Fire District, Williams Rural Fire Protection District, Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications and Pacific Power. Agencies assisting with coverage of additional incidents during the fire were the Applegate Valley Fire District and Jackson County Fire District #3.