Local News

The results are in -- the Grants Pass School District has announced the winners of the 2023 Holiday Card Contest. District-level winners in the annual competition are Hudson A. from Highland Elementary School in the K-1 division, Hayden K. from Riverside in the 2-3 division, and a tie in the 4-5 division between Canaan W. of Allen Dale and Juliette W. of Highland. Zayne J. of South Middle School earned first place in the 6-8 division and Peerada G. of Grants Pass High School grabbed top honors in the 9-12 division. The People's Choice winners were Canaan W. of Allen Dale and Peerada G. of GPHS. The Grants Pass School Board will recognize the winners at its meeting today. Nearly 700 people voted for their favorite holiday card designs, which are now heading to the printer. If you would like to purchase holiday cards from this contest, please visit "parentsquare.com/feeds/26062122."

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for violating his post-prison supervision following a weekend disturbance at a Merlin area supermarket. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 29-year-old Dustin Michael Fontana for the incident at Ray's Food Place on Saturday shortly after 6 a.m.. Deputies said they contacted Fontana and determined he was under the influence of a narcotic stimulant, most likely methamphetamine. They said he was found to be in possession of a fiberglass stick approximately three feet long as well as what appeared to be a meth pipe. Supermarket workers reported that Fontana was making threats toward people and swinging the green plastic stick around. The suspect alarmed employees by hitting shopping carts near the store entrance. One worker had to be escorted into the store by another to avoid any interaction with and/or getting struck by the suspect. Dustin Fontana was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Felony Parole Violation related to past convictions for Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, Disorderly Conduct and Furnishing False Information to Police. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for theft, weapon and drug charges after a weekend shoplifting incident at Home Depot. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the store on NE Mill Street on Saturday around 8:20 p.m.. Police said 33-year-old Samantha Jean Brown was identified as a suspect who passed all points of sale with over $100 worth of merchandise and failed to pay for the items. They said she admitted to the theft and other stolen goods were found in her vehicle along with drug paraphernalia. Officers said 29-year-old Eric Bryan Weldon was associated with a theft at Home Depot. During a consent search, he was found to be in possession of two stolen packs of batteries concealed in his shirt. He admitted to stealing the batteries as well as some lights hidden in the wheel well of a vehicle. He was also found to be in possession of a dagger and he was confirmed to be a convicted felon. Brown was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and the narcotics violation. Weldon was lodged in jail for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon and 3rd-Degree Theft. All the stolen merchandise was recovered and returned to Home Depot. The dagger was seized as evidence and the drug paraphernalia was destroyed.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order following a weekend report of domestic violence at a downtown supermarket. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at the Safeway on SE 7th Street on Sunday around 10:30 a.m.. Police said they contacted 59-year-old Clint Edward Robertson in a vehicle with a woman after they received a report that he struck her during a verbal dispute. The caller told dispatchers they were screaming at each other in a Buick sedan. Both parties denied a physical aspect to their argument, but it was determined that there was a valid no-contact order in place protecting the woman from Robertson. Clint Robertson was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court. He was advised that he would continue to be arrested every time the order was violated.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for vandalizing a patrol vehicle shortly after he left Three Rivers Medical Center and had become the subject of a weekend welfare check. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a man later identified as 57-year-old Robert Vincent Jones loitering at the Verizon Wireless Store on Union Avenue on Saturday at about 3 p.m.. Police said Jones had just left the hospital and was acting odd while lying in the middle of the road and then entering the store where he tried to lay down. Callers requested a welfare check as it appeared he was having some sort of medical issue. Jones reportedly walked across Redwood Highway to the Chevron station where he continued his erratic behavior. He was placed into custody and put in a patrol vehicle where he intentionally head-butted the passenger side pillar, causing a large dent. It was unclear whether he injured himself. Robert Jones was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested three motorists for impaired driving over the long holiday weekend in Josephine County. According to OSP, the first incident occurred last Thursday night when troopers were dispatched to a crash near milepost 5 of Williams Highway. Troopers said 49-year-old Rebecca Harvie of Grants Pass was driving a Dodge Ram 2500 when she left the roadway and crashed through multiple fences. Harvie displayed signs of impairment, performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she provided a breath sample that was nearly three times the legal driving limit. The second incident happened last Friday night when troopers pulled over a Cadillac ATS driven by 31-year-old Joshua Gray of Merlin near the intersection of Hugo and Three Pines roads. Troopers said they stopped Gray for a traffic violation and he showed signs of impairment. After performing poorly in sobriety tests, he was taken to the Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal limit. The third incident took place late Sunday night when troopers pulled over a GMC Sierra driven by 24-year-old Ryane Jacobson in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 near milepost 58 in north Grants Pass. Troopers said they stopped Jacobson for a traffic violation and she appeared to be impaired. She refused to participate in field testing, so she was placed into custody. She refused to provide a breath sample, so she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a Cave Junction man for causing a three-vehicle crash on Williams Highway that sent another motorist to the hospital. OSP reports troopers responded to the wreck near milepost 11 of Highway 238 on Saturday shortly after 2 p.m.. Troopers said 39-year-old Dennis Erik White was driving a sport utility vehicle that rear-ended a sedan and pushed it into another car. The driver in the car was transported to the hospital with a minor injury. No one else was hurt. Two of the three vehicles -- the SUV and the sedan -- were hauled by Caveman Towing to Grants Pass. Following an investigation, White was cited for Following Too Closely.

 

The Cave Junction City Council has a busy agenda for its regular meeting tonight. The City Council will begin the meeting with the monthly update from Public Works Director Alex Ponder. Included in his report will be updates on Water Distribution, Wastewater Collection and the Parks Division. After approving minutes from previous meetings and receiving planning updates, the Council will consider an OLCC liquor license request from the Li'l Pantry Market & Deli followed by Council liaison reports and public comment. Cave Junction Meadow Martell will recommend the appointment of Sabrina Dellinger to the Parks & Recreation Commission. The Council will conclude the meeting with consideration of the 2nd reading of Ordinance 601. Before any section of a street is closed to traffic for a "Paint the Pavement" or "Block Party" program, permits will be required. Tonight's meeting begins at 7 at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.

 

A Grants Pass man was jailed over the weekend for attacking his mother at a southwest city residence. The Grants Pass Police Department reports 49-year-old Scott David Duarte was arrested for the incident that occurred at a home on SW Grant Street on Friday evening. Police said Duarte subjected his mother to offensive physical contact when he pushed her off a dining room chair and into a wall. They said the woman had bruises from the attack, but she declined medical treatment. The incident was witnessed by others who called 9-1-1. Duarte reportedly explained that there was an argument with his mother, but he denied pushing her from the chair. Evidence at the scene indicated otherwise. Scott Duarte was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment and was being held without bail. His mother was provided with a domestic violence form and advised of her options in seeking a restraining order against her son.