Local News

Grants Pass Police jailed a man early yesterday for trespassing at a downtown convenience store and then scuffling with responding law enforcement, injuring a female officer. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 30-year-old man at the 7-Eleven store on SW 6th Street on Tuesday at 12:12 a.m.. Police said a store worker called 9-1-1 to report a male subject standing outside the door and harassing customers. The caller said the man kept coming in and out of the store, and they believed he was under the influence of drugs. The man refused to leave the business when asked to do so. Responding officers took the uncooperative suspect to the ground and a female officer requested an ambulance for a possible broken ankle. The man continued to struggle with law enforcement while uttering nonsensical statements. He was eventually subdued after a Taser was deployed on him two times. According to the report, the man also intentionally banged his head on the cage in the patrol vehicle. He was not seriously hurt. The suspect was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest and Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a local fugitive while recovering a stolen vehicle at a south-city car wash this week. According to the Police Department, officers arrested a 30-year-old man at the South Y Car Wash off Redwood Highway late Monday night. Police were patrolling the South Y area when they observed a parked vehicle in the car wash. The vehicle with Washington plates had its hood open and appeared to be unoccupied. Upon further inspection, a male subject sat up in the driver seat of the vehicle which had been reported stolen by the Seattle Police Department. Further investigation revealed that the man was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. The suspect told police the stolen vehicle already had a punched-out ignition and he was given the vehicle by a random person at a railroad station. The suspect was placed into custody on the warrant plus charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Seattle PD was notified about the recovered vehicle, which was towed to impound.

 

Oregon health insurance companies are warning residents about a recent wave of unsolicited calls about Medicare plans. If you are receiving phone calls about Medicare plans, don't answer. Unsolicited calls are against federal regulations. Please do not give out any personal information over the phone. Reach out to a local agent to review your options. To get information on your Medicare options, visit "medicare.gov," call 1-(800)-MEDICARE or contact your local State Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). To file a grievance or complaint about Medicare marketing efforts targeting you, call 1-(800)-MEDICARE 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

Jackson County Fire District #1 would like to remind everyone that if they plan to burn yard debris to do it safely. Even though we are not yet in fire season, there is still a risk for a burn pile to get out of control and spread to the wildland. This risk increases as we experience warmer and drier days. If you live within Jackson County Fire District #1 in the Rogue River/Gold Hill area and plan to burn, you must first obtain a burn permit. This can be done in person at 5474 North River Road in Gold Hill or online at "rogueriverfd.com." The burn permits have rules, regulations and instructions to help everyone burn safely.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will consider a grant agreement, four resolutions and two plat maps during its weekly business session this morning. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider an intergovernmental pact through the Oregon Health Authority between Josephine County and Options for Southern Oregon. Services provided by Options would be paid for by the state. There are four resolutions in the Consent Calendar. They are appointments or reappointments to the Josephine Housing & Community Development Council, Illinois Valley Airport Advisory Board and Bikeways & Walkways Committee. Also on the Consent Calendar are plat maps for Oregon Trail Estates and Phase 1 of Silverbrook. Requests and Comments from Citizens allows participants to address the Board for up to three minutes on just about any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, a remote expanse of wilderness along the California-Oregon border, will not lose any of its acreage after the US Supreme Court this week declined to take up two challenges to its expansion. According to the Oregonian, logging interests and several counties in Oregon had asked the high court to strike down a 2017 addition to the monument. Their lawsuit claimed President Barack Obama improperly made the designation because Congress had previously set aside the land for timber harvests. By gaining monument status, the area won special protections including a prohibition on logging. The challenges to the expansion raised the additional and broader question of whether the president's authority to create national monuments unilaterally under the Antiquities Act should be restricted. Critics of the 1906 law, who have commonly opposed bids for new designations, have argued it gives too much power to the executive branch. The Supreme Court decided not to address the issue. The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument was created in 2000 to protect what is considered an ecologically valuable juncture of the ancient Siskiyou Mountains and the younger volcanic Cascades. The area, because of its diversity, contains a unique mix of plants and wildlife, from cactus to old-growth fir forests and desert snakes to salamanders. The monument was expanded by about 48,000 acres seven years ago.

 

Attention Josephine County residents: Would $250 help you with completing defensible space projects around your home? Warmer and drier spring weather reminds us that wildfire season is just around the corner. There is no better time than now to get started on the projects to help keep you and your neighbors safer from fire. Property owners in the greater Grants Pass area including the New Hope and Merlin communities and beyond are eligible for financial assistance to help offset costs and promote the creation of defensible space. To learn more, visit "oregondefensiblespace.org." Once there, you can read the guidelines on which communities are eligible and the overall program details. To get started, click on the SCHEDULE NOW button. Use the search bar to enter your address, then zoom in and click on your house. Contact information on who will conduct the assessment on your property will appear. Rural Metro Fire Department is utilizing the Oregon State Fire Marshal to conduct assessments in its service area. Request an assessment by clicking on the SmartSheet link in the contact information that appears. For questions regarding the program, send an e-mail to "osfm.defensiblespace@osfm.oregon.gov."

 

The Oregon State Fire Marshal is calling on Oregonians and local fire agencies to submit their nominations for the prestigious Golden and Silver Sparky Awards. The awards recognize outstanding achievements in fire prevention and public safety education. They honor the dedication and commitment of people and organizations working to create safer communities. The Golden Sparky Award is awarded to a fire service member or agency demonstrating exemplary efforts in fire prevention or public safety education. The Silver Sparky Award recognizes the remarkable contributions of civilians or civilian agencies demonstrating exemplary efforts in fire prevention and education. Nominations for these awards are open until April 1st. To nominate deserving candidates, simply submit a nomination form along with a detailed explanation and examples showcasing the nominee's exceptional achievements. For more information and to access the nomination form, visit the OSFM Sparky Award webpage or e-mail "publicaffairs.osfm@osfm.oregon.gov."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will consider a grant agreement, four resolutions and two plat maps during its weekly business session tomorrow. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider an intergovernmental pact through the Oregon Health Authority between Josephine County and Options for Southern Oregon. Services provided by Options would be paid for by the state. There are four resolutions in the Consent Calendar. They are appointments or reappointments to the Josephine Housing & Community Development Council, Illinois Valley Airport Advisory Board and Bikeways & Walkways Committee. Also on the Consent Calendar are plat maps for Oregon Trail Estates and Phase 1 of Silverbrook. Requests and Comments from Citizens allows participants to address the Board for up to three minutes on just about any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.