Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested an uncooperative frequent flyer for probable cause of trespassing early yesterday. According to the Police Department, patrol officers contacted 35-year-old Travis Carrasco Boget in the 100-block of SW H Street on Tuesday at about 12:40 a.m.. Police said they spotted Boget sitting on a sidewalk at that location and knew he was wanted for a recent trespassing violation. They told the suspect he was under arrest, but he walked away from them and ignored lawful commands to stop. Boget continued to walk away when another unit was called in to assist placing him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Escape and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

An injured hiker was rescued yesterday in a remote area of southern Josephine County. On Tuesday at 2:12 p.m., the Williams Rural Fire Protection District was dispatched to a hiker with an injury about two miles up Marble Gulch on BLM land. Williams Fire officials said the hiker was brought down the mountain via a Stokes basket and was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for an unspecified injury. The hiker was not identified in the Facebook post. Officials said teamwork between the local fire district, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and American Medical Response make incidents like this one successful for the people involved and the community at-large.

 

The first business session of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners in 2024 looks like it will be a short one. The only action item on the agenda is approval of a grant agreement between the District Attorney's Office and State of Oregon. Ordinarily, the Board selects its Chair and Vice-Chair during the first meeting of the new year. However, it appears that will take place on January 10th. The Consent Calendar contains various minutes from previous business sessions and legal counsel updates along with State Representative District 3 interviews and the selection of Dwayne Yunker to replace Lily Morgan in Salem. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens in which the public can address the Board for up to three minutes on virtually any topic. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Now that the excitement of the gift-giving season has come to a close, many Oregonians' thoughts will turn to the anticipation of something even bigger -- claiming their share of the state's all-time record $5.6 billion kicker tax credit. The good news is anyone who filed a 2022 Oregon income tax return is all set to claim their kicker on their 2023 return this year. The not-so-good news is filing taxes often creates anxiety, worry and stress. For those who dread tax season every year, the Oregon Department of Revenue says there's no reason to let tax season make you sweat. Taking a few easy steps in the next few weeks can make preparing your 2023 return easy -- and lower your heart rate in the process. The first thing taxpayers should do if they hope to claim their share of the kicker this year is to make sure they have filed a 2022 return. The department received more than 2.2 million 2022 tax returns so most taxpayers have done that -- but for those who haven't, filing a 2022 tax return should be their first priority. For more information, visit "oregon.gov/dor."

 

Medford police have launched an investigation after authorities were contacted about a patient's death at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. Hospital officials confirmed that police are investigating one death at Asante in Medford, although families of two alleged victims have confirmed the loss of loved ones in interviews with the Rogue Valley Times. Lauren Van Sickle, Asante communications manager, said she was unable to comment on any reported deaths because police are investigating. Medford Police Lieutenant Geoff Kirkpatrick confirmed in a text: "We are investigating a case at Asante Rogue Regional. It is in its very preliminary stages and we have no further information we can release." Multiple hospital sources, who declined to be identified, confirmed dozens of patients injured by medication diversion -- the act of replacing a medication with another substance. Sources allege that a hospital nurse was removing fentanyl from IV bags and replacing it with tap water. One local family shared their story with the Times, which first learned of the investigation December 23rd. Grants Pass resident Garrett Atwood received a December 18th phone call in which

 

A Talent nonprofit is among 24 Oregon-based organizations that have been awarded a total of nearly $575,000 by the Oregon Community Foundation's Thriving Entrepreneurs Program. This OCF funding will be shared by the two-dozen nonprofits for mentoring, technical assistance and access to capital for under-resourced entrepreneurs in order to help strengthen the state's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant is an open, responsive grant-making opportunity that offers organizations flexible funding. Each grant ranges from $15,000 to $25,000. The program prioritizes support for organizations that serve entrepreneurs who are women, people of color, living in under-resourced rural communities, or working in under-resourced sectors. The Talent Business Alliance received a grant of $25,000 to support local businesses and entrepreneurs at every stage of development by offering technical assistance, networking and advocacy to expand the vitality of the Talent community. Talent lost 60% of its businesses in the 2020 Almeda Fire and the remaining 40% continue to struggle in the wake of incredible losses from the fire.

 

Many cities have a famous WING mural, inspiring tourists and locals to be photographed in front of the painting of outstretched wings. Now, the City of Grants Pass seeks an Instagram-worthy mural of our own. Through this project -- called "Inspired by Wings" -- the city and its Committee on Public Art would like the personalized contents of the mural's wings to reflect our region, history, culture and natural resources. Selected students from the four area high schools will meet with the chosen artist to research and brainstorm ideas. The artists will develop the finished design that will be painted by the team. Artists and high school students are challenged to create a wing-inspired mural that reflects the fabric of our community. The Inspired by Wings project furthers the city's goal of creating a vibrant commercial district by enhancing downtown activities and safe spaces. The artists is asked to create site-specific works that create a sense of play and invoke interaction by the public. The budget is $3,500. The deadline for applications is February 2nd. Planning and painting will occur in late March, weather permitting.

 

The first business session of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners in 2024 looks like it will be a short one. The only action item on the agenda is approval of a grant agreement between the District Attorney's Office and State of Oregon. Ordinarily, the Board selects its Chair and Vice-Chair during the first meeting of the new year. However, it appears that will take place on January 10th. The Consent Calendar contains various minutes from previous business sessions and legal counsel updates along with State Representative District 3 interviews and the selection of Dwayne Yunker to replace Lily Morgan in Salem. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens in which the public can address the Board for up to three minutes on virtually any topic. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man on a statewide felony warrant during a weekend traffic stop in the New Hope area. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Chrysler Cirrus driven by 45-year-old Melea Rene Lowry near the intersection of New Hope and Stringer Gap roads on Sunday at 12:05 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped Lowry for a traffic violation and discovered that her passenger -- 35-year-old Lee C. Conway -- was wanted on an Oregon State felony warrant for Parole Violation. Conway was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Lowry was cited to appear in court for her violations and then released.