Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant before taking him to the hospital due to a possible drug overdose. The Police Department reports officers contacted 34-year-old Kyle Daniel Miller after a traffic stop near the corner of SW I and Alder streets on Saturday at 12:17 a.m.. Police said they were patrolling in the area when they spotted Miller run through a stop sign and then learned that he was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Unlawful Possession of Heroin. As officers placed Miller into custody, he claimed he had just swallowed a half-gram of fentanyl. He was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center where he was kept for observation. Kyle Miller was cited to appear in court on the warrant and released to the care of medical staff. He was also warned for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.

 

The Grants Pass City Council will tour two parks before its bi-weekly workshop session today. The City Council will tour Tussing and Morrison Centennial parks where there have been numerous complaints about ordinance violations by the unhoused populations temporarily residing there due to a federal court injunction. The workshop agenda begins with a staff update on the Owl Parking Lot Plaza. Citizens have recently completed a survey asking for input on its rehabilitation. Also slated for Council discussion is Strategic Planning and a review of the agenda for Wednesday night's regular meeting. Today's workshop begins at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

Avista, Oregon's second largest natural gas utility, can no longer make customers pay for its political activities and subsidize new residential gas pipelines, according to the terms of a settlement agreement approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. The Oregonian reports last week's settlement includes a smaller rate increase of 4.7% – instead of the 8% sought by the company earlier this year. It also increases Avista's low-income weatherization program budget from about $800,000 to $2 million. Avista serves more than 106,000 customers in parts of southern and eastern Oregon. The settlement marks the first time in Oregon history that a gas utility will phase out charges called line extension allowances, in which all customers bear the cost of connecting new buildings to the gas pipeline system. Without the subsidies, an individual developer or homeowner would have to cover the costs of new pipelines. Climate activists who oppose the expansion of the natural gas system say line extension allowances encourage new homes to be built with gas at a time when gas utilities should instead drastically reduce their emissions. A natural gas fact-finding investigation released by the Public Utility Commission earlier this year found that growing the gas system in Oregon and adding new hookups will increase emissions and drive up utilities' costs to comply with the state’s climate mandate to reduce fossil fuel emissions – which is likely to lead to rate increases for all customers.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters logged another busy week of protecting people and structures in the community. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 688 calls for service along with 350 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 51 arrests, 30 citations, 38 warnings and nine highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. The Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 191 contacts with potential trouble-makers while arresting nine people, citing 49 more and warning 93 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 37 individuals, posted 91 new transient camps and removed trash from 12 campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 99 calls last week including 34 for emergency medical service, five reports of fire or smoke, 12 lift assists, five rescue situations, six assists to other agencies and eight false alarms. Firefighters also performed 19 business inspections, assisted the public six times and installed one child car seat. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 1,176 emergency calls in addition to 959 calls for non-emergency service.

 

Hidden Valley High School is reaching out to all veterans in the community from all branches of the military to join them as they express their gratitude for your service and sacrifices. The high school in Murphy is proud to host a special Veteran Tribute on Thursday, November 9th, at 11 a.m.. Local veterans and their families are invited to be a part of this meaningful event. Your presence at the HVHS Veteran Tribute will make this event even more special. In addition, the high school would love to include photos for their displays honoring local veterans. If you have a photo of yourself or a loved one in uniform, please send it to HVHS via e-mail at "tracey.jacobs@threerivers.k12.or.us." They can also scan your original photos and return them to you. Veterans are also invited to share their experiences with Hidden Valley students prior to the tribute. They want to ensure every hero is recognized and celebrated on this special day. Please RSVP by November 1st by calling Tracey Jacobs at (541)-862-2124, Extension 3723.

 

The Oregon State Police was looking for suspects who fled the scene of a crash involving two other vehicles this week on Redwood Highway in Selma. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle wreck on US Highway 199 at Lakeshore Drive on Thursday at 8:32 p.m.. State troopers said a stolen Dodge Ram 2500 pickup towing a trailer failed to yield the right-of-way and was T-boned by a GMC Sierra pickup that was also towing a trailer. They said all occupants of the stolen Dodge fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement. According to OSP, a 69-year-old Chiloquin man was driving the GMC at the time of the crash. He was not hurt and issued a crash report. The registered owner of the stolen pickup was contacted and given instructions on how to retrieve his vehicle. Both the trucks and trailers were hauled to Cave Junction by Jerry's Towing. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to dial *OSP.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a local fugitive in the downtown area early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 25-year-old Christian Nicholas Peckham at the corner of SE 6th and H streets on Friday at 12:48 a.m.. Police said they were on patrol in the downtown area when they spotted Peckham and knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for 2nd-Degree Burglary. Christian Peckham was placed into custody without incident and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

As the summer threat of fire to homes has diminished, the threat of fire from within increases. Flue fires are one of the leading causes of house fires during the colder months. Failure to clean the chimney of creosote buildup can lead to an ignition inside the flue. A flue fire isn't necessarily a problem, but heat or embers escaping through cracks or separations in the mortar, liner or pipe can ignite the walls, attic or roof. In the event a flue fire occurs at your home, call 9-1-1. Firefighters have special equipment for suppressing flue fires and checking for extension of flames into the structure. Fire that spreads into the structure can becoming damaging very fast. The sooner firefighters arrive, the less damage there could be. While you wait for their arrival, 9-1-1 will provide some basic instructions such as placing water-soaked newspaper inside the woodstove or fireplace. Wet paper will produce steam that will begin the cooling process up inside the flue. Since many house fires start in the middle of the night while you sleep, make sure that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are adequately placed and working. Installing a "monitored" fire alarm system is even better and it can alert firefighters when you are not home. Early detection is the key to keeping fires small. Prevent the potential of a house fire by having your chimney cleaned and inspected by a licensed chimney sweep and by burning dry, seasoned hardwood to reduce creosote buildup. Have someone get into your attic and look at the spacing of the flue from wooden roof and truss components, insulation and personal storage.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department wants everyone to have a safe and fun Halloween this year -- and the company has provided some basic tips and reminders to help make it that way. Use caution with any fire such as candles and bonfires. Costumes and accessories should be fire-resistant. Wear good-fitting costumes and shoes to avoid trips and falls. Children should always be accompanied by an adult. Remember, there is safety in numbers. Trick or Treat only in familiar, well-lit areas. Never enter a stranger's home. You may want to consider participating in a community event, such as "Trunk or Treat" or downtown business events. After sunset, carry a flashlight or headlamp to help see and be seen. Use reflective tape on costumes and bags for better nighttime visibility. Glow sticks make great accessories. Guard against distractions like cell phone use while walking in the dark with a costume on. Follow all pedestrian and traffic safety rules. Getting hit by a vehicle is one of the leading causing of injury on Halloween. Motorists should slow down and watch for trick-or-treaters, especially at night. Do not eat any treats until they are inspected. Avoid homemade treats and stick with those that are commercially-packaged. Adults consuming adult beverages should celebrate responsibly, especially if they are chaperoning children.