Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two motorists for impaired driving after separate weekend incidents in the Merlin-North Valley area. According to the Sheriff's Office, the first incident occurred on Friday at 7:35 p.m. when deputies were alerted to a vehicle in a ditch in the 3,000-block of Camp Joy Road. Deputies said the crash occurred when 60-year-old Lisa Wilson lost control of a 1993 Eagle Vision ESI. She was not hurt. Deputies said Wilson displayed signs of impairment at the crash scene and did poorly in field sobriety tests, so she was placed into custody. She was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of impairment. The second incident happened on Saturday at 11:05 p.m. when deputies pulled over a 2006 Land Rover driven by 34-year-old Desiray Tolson at the intersection of Ort Lane and Merlin Road. Deputies said they stopped Tolson for a traffic violation and she exhibited strong signs of impairment. After performing poorly in field sobriety tests, Tolson was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she provided a breath sample that was nearly three times the legal driving limit.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters were engaged in numerous activities to help protect the community last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 662 calls for service along with 335 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 43 arrests, 22 citations, 48 warnings and two highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 57 traffic stops in the city. The Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 136 contacts with potential trouble-makers while arresting five people, citing 31 more and warning 79 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 34 individuals and posted 112 new transient camps. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 102 calls last week including 49 for emergency medical service, one for fire and/or smoke, 15 lift assists, 11 rescue situations, six assists to other agencies and six false alarms. Firefighters performed 20 business inspections and assisted the public 18 times. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 1,059 emergency calls in addition to 904 calls for non-emergency service.

 

The Cave Junction City Council will consider some requests and a couple of ordinances during its regular meeting tonight. After receiving an update from the Public Works Department, the City Council will tackle its Consent Agenda which includes minutes from previous meetings and planning updates. Also on the agenda are requests for amplified sound for the Harvest Festival Event next Saturday at Bigfoot Printing, for amplified sound and extended hours for the Illinois Valley High School Haunted House on October 28th, and for an OLCC liquor license for the KOA Campground. The Council will consider the first reading of an ordinance for Paint the Pavement and another ordinance for revisions to city signage. There will also be Council liaison reports and time for public comments during tonight's meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.

 

Authorities apprehended an out-of-state murder suspect and dismantled an illegal marijuana growing operation near Merlin last week. Detectives with the Oregon State Police assisted the Connecticut State Police with locating and apprehending 31-year-old Christopher Suarez in Josephine County on Wednesday. He was lodged in jail without bail pending extradition proceedings. According to OSP, Suarez was wanted on a nationwide fugitive warrant for murder related to a shooting in Connecticut that occurred in February of this year. No other information on that incident was disclosed. During the investigation, detectives determined Suarez was associated with an illegal marijuana grow in the Merlin area. A search warrant was served with help from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office. During execution of the warrant, four greenhouses and 796 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. In addition, six grams of cocaine, three packages of meth and some unidentified orange pills were found and seized as evidence. Due to the ongoing investigation, detectives said no further information will be released at this time.

 

With the assistance of numerous local emergency agencies, Asante Three Rivers Medical Center staged a mass casualty training event late last week. On Friday morning, the training occurred in the area of Grandview Avenue and Ringuette Street. Participating agencies included Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response, Grants Pass Police, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Fire District #1, Illinois Valley Fire District, Applegate Valley Fire District, Mercy Flights, Reach Air Medical Services and Cal-Ore Life Flight. Approximately three-dozen first responders were involved in the exercise as participants or observers. Two of the observers became mock victims themselves after being contaminated by a simulated explosion at an organo-phosphate farm. Approximately two-dozen Grants Pass High School students volunteered to play the roles of victims with a wide variety of injuries, five of which were deemed "fatal." The students -- doused in fake blood and sporting phony shrapnel injuries -- yelled and screamed as if they had been badly wounded, adding to the effect of the simulation.

 

This week has been designated "National School Lunch Week" by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA). ODE and OSBA are teaming up to raise awareness of the importance of Child Nutrition Programs in Oregon schools. Around the state, school board members will eat with students during the week to learn about the healthy and tasty options, and to experience the social benefits of school lunches. In 2022-23, over 39 million school lunches were served to Oregon students. The Oregon Legislature has endorsed the value of school meals including funding in the Student Success Act this biennium for expanded school nutrition programs. ODE Director of Child Nutrition Dustin Melton said National School Lunch Week is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the great meals offered in Oregon schools. He said it also celebrates the child nutrition staff in every school that ensures healthy meals are provided to Oregon's kids each school day.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff’s office is reminding the general public that as the general hunting season begins this weekend, they are asking for help in spreading the word on a missing person, Graham Case.
JCSO detectives and Search & Rescue are looking for any information on the whereabouts of Graham Case, missing since June 22. He was last seen driving a white 2014 Mercedes SUV, license plate number WC26068.Graham Rhode Case, 47, was last seen leaving his Medford residence June 22nd. He is described as a white male, 6’3” tall, weighing 230 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes.

 

The Grants Pass City Police answered 662 calls for service last week while making 335 officer-initiated contacts. That activity resulted in 43 arrests, 22 citations being issued, and 48 warnings being handed out. 57 traffic stops were conducted, and 2 individuals were lodged in the sobering center. The community response team made 136 contacts and posted 112 homeless camps. 79 warnings were issued along with 31 citations and 5 arrests were executed. Fire/Rescue responded to one fire and 49 medical assists, 15 lift assists and 18 other public assists. Units participated in 11 rescues and assisted other agencies six times. The division also answered six false alarms. 20 businesses were inspected.

 

Friday morning Asante staged a Mass Casualty Training in the area of Grandview Avenue and Ringuette St, with the assistance of numerous local emergency responder agencies. Approximately three dozen first responders participated in the exercise as participants or observers, two of whom later became mock victims themselves after being contaminated. The drill simulated an explosion at a farm with organo-phosphates. Approximately two dozen students from Grants Pass High School volunteered to play the roles of victims with a variety of injuries, five of which were deemed “fatal.” The students, doused in fake blood and sporting phony shrapnel injuries, yelled and screamed as if they had been mortally wounded, adding to the effect of the simulation. Personnel from Asante and the high school were on scene to assist and observe the first responders and students. Grants Pass Fire and Rescue is preparing for another drill early next year.