Local News

Respiratory virus season is in full swing -- and so is the season for holiday celebrations when viruses are more likely to be spread. According to the Oregon Health Authority, it's not too late to protect yourself and others from severe illness during the holidays by getting vaccinated and to know you'll be protected through the winter when people spend more time socializing indoors. OHA officials said COVID-19 transmission in Oregon has been steady over the past month with a percent positivity of 9.3% for the first week of December. Omicron is still be predominant variant, and no single subvariant has emerged that is predicted to cause more severe disease. The rate of COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Oregon is predicted to remain stable into early January. Respiratory syncytial virus -- or RSV -- transmission in Oregon is steadily increasing with a percent positivity of 7.9% for the first week of December. Influenza transmission in Oregon remains low, but it is steadily increasing with a percent positivity of 3.5%. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) predicts a steady increase in flu-related hospitalizations in Oregon through the first week in January. Everyone six months and older is recommended to get a flu vaccination.

 

Residents are invited to attend and participate in a community forum hosted by the City of Grants Pass early next week. The goal of the forum set for 6 p.m. Monday is to learn more about current issues related to housing production, rent burden, fair housing and more. Information will be shared on current housing statistics, causes and consequences of rent burden, barriers to reducing rent burden and local resources. Feedback from this community discussion will be used to help guide city housing strategies and initiatives to address current rental housing challenges. Grants Pass has been identified by the Oregon Housing & Community Services Department as a city that is severely rent-burdened, with 28.6% of all renters paying more than half of their income on rent. Paying too much for housing often prevents households from paying for other necessary expenses including medical care, food, utilities, education, transportation, childcare and more. During this event, community members are encouraged to share experiences, ask questions and provide input on potential solutions to ease the local housing crisis.

 

Helping your neighbors and their families stay warm just got easier. Pacific Power will match every dollar you donate to the Oregon Energy Fund with $2 more. Pacific Power customers who receive their bills by mail will find they include an Oregon Energy Fund contribution envelope in November. Customers who pay their bills electronically can send a check or enroll in the fixed donation program. This program allows customers to donate any dollar amount, starting at $1 per month, which is then incorporated into their monthly bill. Fixed donations will also be matched 2-for-1 by Pacific Power. To enroll in the fixed donation program, customers can call Pacific Power toll-free at 1-(888)-221-7070 or visit "pacificpower.net." Donations may be tax-deductible and are forwarded directly to the Oregon Energy Fund, which verifies eligibility and allocates funds to those in need. All funds donated are used to assist families in need within the same county in which the donor resides.

 

One person was killed and another person was seriously injured when the vehicle they were riding in crashed into a tree near Cave Junction last night. On Thursday at 9:45 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police rushed to the single-vehicle wreck in the 100-block of White Schoolhouse Road. IVFD officials said arriving units found a vehicle had collided with a tree. They said one occupant was deceased at the scene while the other was critically injured and transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass. No other details were available including the identities of the occupants. Officials said the Sheriff's Office is conducting an investigation into the fatal crash.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on out-of-state and local warrants yesterday after a shoplifting incident at Walmart. The Police Department reports officers arrested 48-year-old Zack Caine Herrell for the incident at the big box retailer on NE Terry Lane at 11 a.m. Thursday. Police said Herrell collected around $30 worth of items from Walmart and passed all points of sale without paying. They said he got into a recreational vehicle driven by his friend and the pair attempted to get away before being stopped by officers. Herrell initially gave police a false name before his true identity was discovered. It soon became apparent why he lied -- he was wanted on a fugitive warrant out of Powell County, Montana, for Probation Violation and he was also wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Probation Violation related to a traffic offense. Zack Herrell was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on the warrants along with new charges of 3rd-Degree Theft and Furnishing False Information to Police. He was being held without bail. Herrell and his friend -- identified by police as "Morgan" -- were trespassed from Walmart.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant while patrolling Rogue River Highway this week. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 35-year-old Ian Seiwell Hogue near the corner of Highway 99 and Cloverlawn Drive on Wednesday. Police said they spotted Hogue and knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Resisting Arrest, Escape and Criminal Trespass. He was placed into custody without incident. Ian Hogue was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $15,000 bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant, cited him and two others for city ordinance violations and evicted all of them during park patrols on Thursday. During a patrol check at Fruitdale Park, officers contacted 43-year-old Elijah Samuel Greene and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Petty Theft. He was lodged at the adult jail facility. Earlier in the day, Greene had been trespassed from Fruitdale Park for 30 days after being cited for Scattering Rubbish and Unlawful Utilization of Park Space. A total of seven illegal campsites were posted at the park and an e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network (UCAN). During a patrol check at Baker Park, William Jensen and Jessica Pitts were cited for Scattering Rubbish and Misuse of Park Open Space. Both were given 30-day exclusions from the park. A total of 11 illegal campsites were posted and an e-mail was sent to UCAN.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Medford woman who fled the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Redwood Highway near the Applegate River late yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle crash on US Highway 199 near Riverbanks Road on Thursday around 4 p.m.. State troopers identified one of the involved drivers as 36-year-old Cheryl Four Lakota Winds Larvie of Medford and said she fled the scene on foot, leaving behind the Dodge pickup she was driving. Troopers searched the area, located Larvie and placed her into custody for Driving While Suspended. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. According to OSP, no injuries were reported to Larvie or the other unidentified motorist.

 

Grants Pass Police cited and warned a motorist who caused a crash on Redwood Highway late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision on US Highway 199 at Ringuette Street on Thursday shortly after 4 p.m.. Police said Matthew Beard was driving a Nissan Murano when he rear-ended a Toyota Camry that had stopped for a red light at the intersection. They said the crash occurred at low speed and no one was hurt. Both drivers were interviewed and their statements were similar. During the investigation, officer discovered that Beard's driving privileges had been suspended and he had no emergent reason to be behind the wheel. He was cited for Driving While Suspended, warned for Following Too Closely and his vehicle was impounded.