Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman early yesterday for returning to a city park from which she had been trespassed. According to the Police Department, officers spotted 42-year-old Rachel Annette Beeman on Monday shortly before 9 a.m. during a patrol check at Baker Park. Police said Beeman had been trespassed from the city park on May 7th, but she unlawfully returned to the facility on the Rogue River. She was placed into custody without incident. Beeman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was released on Monday evening, but warned not to return to Baker Park.

 

A Sunday night crash near Cave Junction claimed the life of a 22-year-old woman -- it was one of two fatal Illinois Valley crashes that occurred in less than one day. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies, the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck on Rockydale Road near Idlewild Drive on Sunday at 8:18 p.m.. Deputies said the initial investigation indicated a vehicle driven by Myrtle Grace Thogmartin was traveling toward Redwood Highway on Rockydale when -- for an unknown reason -- the vehicle left the roadway and struck a power pole with enough force to shear the pole in half. IVFD and AMR arrived to find the vehicle in a ditch and Thogmartin had been ejected. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. Next of kin was notified. On Monday at 10:45 a.m., deputies, IVFD, AMR and the Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Redwood Highway and Waldamar Road. IVFD officials reported one fatality and said extrication was required for the OSP investigation, which caused significant delays on US Highway 199. No other information will be available until OSP sends out a press release.

 

The Oregon State Police has provided the details about two fatal accidents that occurred last week on Interstate 5 in Jackson County. On Monday, May 12th, OSP and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 5 near milepost 4 near the Siskiyou Summit. OSP said a preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Ford F-150 driven by 69-year-old Michael Kasser of Issaquah, Washington, left its travel lane and struck the trailer of a parked Volvo commercial vehicle driven by a 62-year-old Moreno Valley, California, man. Kasser and his passenger -- 68-year-old Linda Kasser -- were declared deceased at the scene. The California man was not injured. On Tuesday, May 13th, OSP and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 5 near milepost 25. OSP said a preliminary investigation indicated a northbound BMW 3S driven by 20-year-old Justine Castaneda of Medford was in the fast lane when a northbound Honda Accord driven by 45-year-old William Gann of Yreka, California, came up from behind at a reportedly high rate of speed. The BMW attempted to move to the slow lane when it was struck by the Honda, causing the Honda to roll and eject its driver. Gann was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the car and declared deceased at the scene. Castaneda sustained minor injuries.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman with an active warrant and found her to be in possession of both fentanyl and methamphetamine. On Sunday at 3:48 p.m., an officer recognized 33-year-old Hope Susan Hoover and knew she was wanted on an outstanding warrant. After confirming the warrant and Hoover's identity, the officer observed the tip of a small, clear baggie in her left pants pocket. The baggie was removed and contained a chalky white substance that Hoover admitted was fentanyl. The fentanyl had a gross weight of 7.9 grams. Hoover was transported to the Josephine County Jail where -- during the booking process -- two more baggies were removed from her buttocks. One tested positive for fentanyl and the other tested positive for methamphetamine. At that time, Hoover told deputies she swallowed four grams of fentanyl during her initial contact with officers. She was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for evaluation and then returned to the jail where she was lodged on charges of Fentanyl and Meth Possession plus the out-of-county warrant. She was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass woman for harassing people at the Wolf Creek General Store and Wolf Creek Inn last weekend. OSP reports troopers responded to the incident at the store on Front Street in Wolf Creek on Saturday afternoon. Troopers said 62-year-old Shari Lynn Phillips was harassing customers and the owner of the store, so she was trespassed from the premises. They said Phillips then crossed the street to the Wolf Creek Inn where she was yelling and hostile with customers and the owner while throwing chairs. According to OSP, no one was hurt in either incident. Phillips was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office cited a woman yesterday after her dog bit two people at a Grants Pass city park. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to an animal complaint at Tussing Park on West Park Street on Monday around 4 p.m.. Deputies said they cited the unidentified woman for K9 as a Public Nuisance after her dog bit two people at the park. The woman was also provided with a notice of impound and her dog was taken to the Josephine County Animal Shelter for the 10-day bite quarantine period. The woman was advised how to contact the shelter to get the dog out after the quarantine ends.

 

Applications are being accepted for three positions on the Grants Pass and Josephine County Bikeways & Walkways Committee due to expiring terms. The purpose of this committee is to seek input from the community, coordinate and disseminate information for public education about biking and walking routes and rules, and serve as a resource and advisory group regarding bike and pedestrian trails for the City and County. The special qualifications for this position are people who represent the interests of bikers and walkers. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 6th. Applications will be reviewed by the committee on Tuesday, June 10th. Appointments will be made by the Grants Pass City Council on Wednesday, July 2nd.

 

The Grants Pass City Council's Monday workshop dealt with some alternative approaches to create a low-barrier shelter and navigation center in order to cope with the homeless situation. The City Council is considering providing real property to manage the unhoused population. The real property would be either owned by the city or it could be purchased. The panel directed staff to create a grant program that a private entity would apply for to manage either or both a low-barrier shelter and navigation center. The goal would be to reduce or eliminate the current "no barrier" camps. The program will be brought back to the Council at the June 2nd workshop, to be followed by a community forum. The Council also directed staff to initiate a rate review for revenue bonding to fund the new water treatment plant. Impact to citizens will be a 2.5% increase in water rates for three years. A single-family dwelling currently paying $47.45 monthly for water would be paying $54.23 in 2028. The increase was needed after the Trump administration cancelled FEMA's BRIC grant program that had already approved $50 million for the water treatment plant. Councilors also received updates on Economic Development funds and Urban renewal grants. The programs are for attracting visitors from over 50 miles outside of the urban area, plus updating and beautifying Grants Pass’s downtown area.

 

Today's Special Election features candidates running for leadership positions for local school and community college boards, the library district, fire districts, a park district and a water district. A number of the candidates are running unopposed. Contested races include three positions on the Grants Pass School Board. Gary Richardson is defending his seat against Judy Christensen, Cassie Wilkins is defending her seat against Tom Sheckells and Quin Collins Pehrson is taking on Marjie Wilkie. Six candidates are running for three positions on the Three Rivers School Board. The races include Cameron Camp against Neigel Von Hruska, Mariah Rossi versus Bill Ertel and Carrin Godfrey against Rick Nelson. There is one contested race for the Josephine Community Library District Board, with Kelly Robinson taking on Tommi Drake. There is one contested race for the Josephine County Rural Fire Protection District, with Ralph Weidling against Michael Grant. Claudia Pratt is running against Jim Krois for the Williams Rural Fire Protection District. As of Monday evening, the Josephine County Clerk's Office reported an unofficial turnout of just 14.44% of ballots received and 13.65% of ballots accepted. The deadline for the return of ballots by hand or in the mail is 8 o'clock this evening.