Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a young woman for stealing food items from a local supermarket yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Thursday at 2:10 p.m.. Police said 18-year-old Alexandria Sage Bella Donna Millwood concealed food in her purse and passed all points of sale without paying. She was detained by store security who said she was uncooperative and refused to identify herself. Responding officers were able to identify the suspect as Millwood and they lodged her without bail at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of 3rd-Degree Theft.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night after he was spotted using inhalants in the drive-thru of a local fast food restaurant. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a traffic complaint at the McDonalds in the Allen Creek Shopping Center on Thursday around 9:40 p.m.. Police said 23-year-old Joshua Ryan Delacruz was observed doing "whip-its" while in the drive-thru at McDonalds and an employee called 9-1-1. Josephine County sheriff's deputies stopped the suspect, he admitted to the use of inhalants, displayed indicators of impairment and a search of his vehicle located used cans of nitrous oxide. After custody of Delacruz was transferred to Grants Pass police officers, he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw and placed in custody. Joshua Delacruz was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Inhalants. He was cited to appear in court and released, but his vehicle was impounded.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for stealing a trailer and transmission in the Hugo area and then trying to sell the items on social media. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 44-year-old Lance Tyler Huggins, Jr., in the 700-block of Ort Lane in Merlin on Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said they received a report that a 12-foot dump trailer and transmission were stolen from a property in the 5100-block of Tunnel Loop Road last weekend. An investigation discovered that Huggins was attempting to sell those same items on Facebook Marketplace and they were located on the Ort Lane property. Lance Huggins was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, 1st-Degree Theft and the resulting Probation Violation related to past arrests for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Felony and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police, and 4th-Degree Assault. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. The stolen trailer and transmission were returned to their rightful owner who requested that Huggins and a woman identified as "Jessica Grinager" be trespassed from his property.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant following a reported disturbance in the New Hope area this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a report that 35-year-old Jonathan Lee Messer threw a punch at another man at a home in the 4,000-block of New Hope Road on Wednesday night. Deputies said the victim called from a neighbor's house because he did not have a phone. The caller said he managed to dodge the punch, but he was unhappy with Messer's increasingly aggressive behavior. The suspect left the home and went to a single-wide trailer on the back of the property. While on the way to the call, deputies discovered that Messer was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation related to a conviction for a weapons offense. Upon arrival, they entered the trailer, followed him to a back room and placed him into custody without incident. Jonathan Messer was transported to Grants Pass and booked into the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrant. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a Josephine County Community Corrections client this week who attempted to cheat on a mandatory urine test. The Police Department reports officers were called to the Community Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Wednesday. Police said 43-year-old Peter Anthony Rivera was in possession of someone else's urine in a container that he was using to provide his corrections officer with a false urine sample. He was required to provide the urine sample to show that he was not using any drugs. Rivera eventually admitted that his intention was to cover up recent drug use. He was placed into custody and the urine container was seized as evidence. Peter Rivera was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Falsifying Drug Test Results and a Felony Parole Violation stemming from previous convictions for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, 1st-Degree Rape, 2nd-Degree Assault, Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass. He was held without bail.

 

A Winter Storm Watch will be in place in many parts of Oregon and southwest Washington over the next few days, which means the mountains are expected to see heavy snow and the valleys will see heavy rain. Winds will be gusty at times. The Cascades Region of the American Red Cross has some tips to weather the storm, whether you are staying home or if you have plans to travel over the passes. For those who are traveling, Red Cross officials urges motorists to allow enough time to get where you are going. Keep a snow shovel, ice scraper, blankets, warm clothes and other emergency supplies in your vehicle. Don't drive through large puddles or flooded areas, and watch for fallen trees and power lines. Don't follow other vehicles too closely as sudden stops are difficult on snowy roadways. Never use cruise control when driving in winter weather and don't pass snowplows. For those who are staying home, officials encourage residents to stay warm by making sure you can safely heat your residence. Make sure your gas fireplace or other heating sources are working properly. Dress in layers, and check insulation, caulking and weather stripping around doors and windows. Learn how to keep your pipes from freezing. Have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to keep your home safe. Keep generators outside. Stay connected through local media sources. Have a battery-operated radio. Gather at least two weeks of emergency supplies including non-perishable foods, water and medications. For more information, download the Red Cross Emergency App.

 

If you reside or own a business within the city limits of Grants Pass, you're on the clock. The deadline to complete the public safety funding survey is early Monday. Despite the passage of the public safety levy last month, the Grants Pass Police Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue still face a critical funding shortfall. The City of Grants Pass has created a survey that is open to residents and business owners within the city limits so they may weigh in on how they would like to resolve the public safety funding issue. The deadline is Monday at 10 a.m.. The survey presents six options: 1) a public safety utility fee of about $27 each month per household and about $88 each month for most businesses and nonprofits, 2) a food and beverage tax of about 7% on prepared food and beverage purchases within the city, 3) a general sales tax of about 2% on retail purchases in the city excluding groceries and prescription medications, 4) a combination utility fee and sales tax, 5) a combination utility fee and food & beverage tax, or 6) a significant staff reduction in police and fire personnel. It should be noted that all of these options can be put into effect by the Grants Pass City Council without voter approval. However, the City Council voted to survey residents and business owners before making a decision. Those wishing to take the survey can visit "survey.alchemer.com/s3/7615203/City-of-Grants-Pass-Public-Safety-Funding-Options."

 

Electric vehicle drivers should see about 370 new public "Level 2" EV charging ports in communities across the state in 2024, thanks to the first funding round from Oregon's new Community Charging Rebates program. The rebates program reimburses some of the project costs of buying and installing Level 2 EV chargers at multi-family homes and publicly accessible parking areas. The program's first funding round ran from June through October this year and had $1.75 million available. Every dollar was awarded to communities across the state, but the only Southern Oregon city receiving new EV charging ports was Ashland. The City of Ashland will receive four Level 2 EV chargers costing $92,500. Two will be placed in government entity rights-of-way and two will be placed in public parking lots or garages.

 

It's one of the biggest holiday sales in Josephine County -- North Valley High School's Christmas Bazaar is this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The Christmas Bazaar features local vendors selling handmade products and the NVHS Metal Shop will have signs and other projects for sale. Warm your belly with some famous taco soup, sandwiches and desserts. The entry fee is only $1 or a new toy that can be donated for the local Toys for Tots program or a non-perishable food item to donate to the needy. There will be lots of other local fundraisers at the annual bazaar as well. From the Grants Pass area, take Interstate 5 north to the Merlin Exit and follow the signs to 6741 Monument Drive for the North Valley High School Christmas Bazaar.