Local News

Independence Day is a time for celebration, filled with fireworks, barbecues and outdoor fun. But with all the excitement, it's important to prioritize fire safety to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday for everyone. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management reports 85% of wildfires are started by humans -- many times with fireworks and campfires. Whether you are celebrating at home or traveling out of the area, know the latest road conditions, check if you are visiting an area near a wildfire, make sure you are signed up for Oregon emergency alerts, activate Federal Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone, understand evacuation levels, and make sure you have an emergency kit in your vehicle. Fireworks are a staple of Independence Day, but they can also be dangerous. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display put on by professionals. Always check local regulations before lighting fireworks in your area, never give fireworks to small children and keep a bucket of water or hose nearby in case of emergencies. Maintain a safe distance from fireworks and never point them at people, animals or structures. All fireworks are banned on public lands. Backyard barbecues are a great way to celebrate, but they also pose fire hazards. Place your grill away from overhanging branches, siding or deck railings. Never grill indoors and always supervise the grill while in use. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill. Use long-handled tools designed for grilling to prevent burns. OEM officials warn people to stay safe and don't be the spark this holiday.

 

A proposed rate increase by Josephine County's designated ambulance service provider was denied by the Board of Commissioners this morning. American Medical Response requested an 8% increase to their "all-inclusive" base rates along with an additional mileage adjustment. But when Board Chair Andreas Blech asked for a motion to approve the request, no motion was made. The Commissioners unanimously approved an order delegating signing authority for airport lease agreements to the Airport Director. The agreements often must be signed quickly such as for the temporary use of the Grants Pass and Illinois Valley airfields for deploying firefighting aircraft. The Board will continue to maintain oversight on all other major airport decisions. In other business, the Board denied a fee waiver for an unspecified public records request and the topic of Airports General Fund Support was tabled until the next Weekly Business Session. Next Thursday's meeting was canceled due to a lack of a quorum, so the next business session will occur on Thursday, July 17th. During the Public Comment period, two citizens spoke in favor of approval of the lease agreement for the Grants Pass branch library, one person questioned giving signing authority to the Airport Director and another person promoted the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence in front of the Courthouse on Friday at 11 a.m..

 

The Oregon State Police jailed a Grants Pass man for felony assault and impaired driving yesterday after he caused an Interstate 5 collision near Hugo that seriously injured another motorist. OSP reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 67 shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday. State troopers said an investigation indicated that 39-year-old Tristan Thor Petrie-Anderson was driving a Ford F-250 that collided with another Ford F-250 driven by 66-year-old Jesse William Day of Grants Pass on the Mount Sexton descent. According to OSP, Day was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with suspected serious injuries. No other injuries were reported. Petrie-Anderson displayed indicators of impairment at the scene of the crash and he was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 3rd-Degree Assault, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded and towed to Grants Pass while Day's pickup was released to family members.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for a felony violation early today following a traffic stop on Redwood Highway near Selma. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Andre Blair Cotton, Jr., on US Highway 199 near Hidden Creek Road late last night and placed him into custody at about 1:30 this morning. Deputies said they stopped Cotton for a traffic violation and quickly discovered that his driving privileges had been suspended at the felony level. He was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Driving While Suspended. His vehicle was impounded. According to the report, Cotton had two children in the vehicle at the time of his arrest. His mother responded from Murphy to pick up the kids as well as their belongings. The Sheriff's Office notified the Child Protection Division of the Oregon Department of Human Services about the incident.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for blatantly stealing food and beverage from a local supermarket while consuming the items inside the store last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to the shoplifting incident at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday around 7 p.m.. Police said 23-year-old Omar Alejandro Araujo-Cano was walking in the store aisles while eating stolen chicken wings and drinking a stolen energy drink. He then abandoned the packaging by stashing it amongst the merchandise in the health and beauty section. According to the report, WinCo loss prevention viewed the suspect's actions remotely before calling 9-1-1. He attempted to leave the store, but spotted loss prevention and went back inside where he was eventually detained. Araujo-Cano was lodged at the nearby adult jail facility for 3rd-Degree Theft and he was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police located a woman who had been reported missing in California at a city park early yesterday and then promptly arrested her on a local warrant. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 28-year-old Jessica Ann Tope on Wednesday at 6:45 a.m. while she was sleeping at Riverside Park under Caveman Bridge. Police said Tope had been reported missing by the Sonoma County, California, Sheriff's Office, and they were notified that she had been located in Grants Pass. Tope was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was lodged in jail without bail on the warrant and warned for violation of park rules against camping.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for moving violations early yesterday after a traffic stop near Merlin. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Mitsubishi driven by 46-year-old Antonio Moreno Sandoval of Merlin on Robertson Bridge Road near East Linda Vista Road on Wednesday around 8:15 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped Sandoval for multiple violations and discovered that his license was suspended. He was detained after he admitted that he also had no insurance. Sandoval was cited to appear in court and released, but his vehicle was impounded and towed to Grants Pass.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman on an outstanding warrant at a Merlin area residence late yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted 54-year-old Lisa Light at a home in the 200-block of Rogue Rim Drive on Wednesday at 4 p.m.. Deputies said Light's mother alerted them to a bad situation with her daughter's boyfriend and that she was concerned for her safety. They contacted Light who informed them that she had separated from her boyfriend and assured them she was okay. That information was passed along to her mother. During contact, Light was found to be wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Driving While Revoked. She was cited to appear in court and then released.

 

The City of Grants Pass will commence backflow testing on Monday for residential customers who participate in the City's backflow testing program. City contractor Precision Backflow employees will be wearing safety vests with "Precision Backflow" written on it and possess a City-issued photo ID badge. The Grants Pass Residential Backflow Testing Program -- established in 2004 -- provides for the automatic annual testing and repair of backflow assemblies. Each year from April 1st through November 15th, the residential backflow program contractor performs the annual tests. Repairs and maintenance are performed as needed. Single-family dwellings are charged an additional $2 per month on their water bill to pay for this service. This testing should run for several weeks. The contractor should produce their ID badge when asked by a customer. If they do not produce a badge, participants do not need to let them access their properties. Their work van should be close by. If customers receive a notice on their front door, the City requests they call Precision Backflow at (541)-916-5253. If customers have any questions or issues, please call the Grants Pass Distribution Department at (541)-450-6134.