Local News

The Grants Pass City Council plans to decide the fate of the Historic Caretakers Cottage at Riverside Park at a future regular meeting. During its workshop on Monday, the City Council was split on whether to remodel or rebuild the "Reed Building" that faces East Park Street on the south side of the park or to demolish it. Built in 1920 and utilized as the residence for the park caretaker well into the 1950s, the cottage was one of 13 attributes mentioned when Riverside Park was named a National Historic Landmark. In order to renovate the structure, rebuild it or tear it down, a public hearing must be held by the Historical Buildings and Sites Commission (HBSC). The HBSC made a motion last July to preserve the cottage. The City Council toured the cottage in August and a public open house at the 1,000-square-foot structure was held in late October. In a recent community survey, 75% of the respondents said they want to save the structure while 25% were in favor of demolishing it. The Riverside Park Caretakers Cottage needs significant work to restore it to its former glory, but there may be some funding options to help offset the costs. City staff said they would look into potential grants and provide accurate cost estimates of the three options before the Council makes a final decision on its future.

 

The Grants Pass Parks Division has been busy preparing Reinhart Volunteer Park for the spring and summer sports seasons. Staff was busy at Reinhart Park last week with several duties including upgrading some of the tennis and pickleball court lights to LED. These LED lights use up to 75% less electricity than the previously used metal halide lights, have a longer lifespan and eliminate the need for warm-up time unlike their predecessors. Staff installed a new pair of aluminum bleachers at the All Sports Park as they continue to prepare for the upcoming baseball and softball seasons. Aluminum bleachers are the current standard for safety and durability. At the same time, they require minimal maintenance, cutting down on labor and replacement costs. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked the pond at Reinhart Park with 300 legal-sized trout last week. Memorial trees continue to be planted at Reinhart Park. Approximately 30 trees are also being planted this year in the front yards of city residents in neighborhoods around town under the Tree Canopy Program. The program is part of the City's goal to continue to be recognized as a Tree City USA.

 

Applications are now being accepted for a position on the Grants Pass Tourism Advisory Committee. This position is for a three-year term. The goal of the Tourism Advisory Committee is to encourage visitors and residents to engage in community activities while enhancing the positive image of Grants Pass through marketing, promotions and destination management. The purpose of the committee is to review and advise the work of the city's tourism contractor. This includes reporting findings and recommendations to the Grants Pass City Council as needed. The committee is comprised of two members representing lodging properties within the city limits of Grants Pass, with others representing river guides, area attractions, realtors, restaurants, marketing, the media and citizens-at-large. 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 no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 1st.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant after a weekend traffic stop on Williams Highway. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Ricardo Angel Resendez on Highway 238 near New Hope Road on Saturday at about 12:45 a.m.. Police said they observed Resendez arrive at The O'Aces in a motor vehicle and knew that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a past conviction for Arson. Officers contacted him and placed him into custody without incident. Ricardo Resendez was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on two local warrants during a weekend patrol in the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers spotted 31-year-old Justin Matthew Weber at the Grants Pass Post Office on NW 6th Street on Saturday at 8:27 a.m.. Police said they knew Weber from prior contacts. A routine records check showed that he was wanted on Grants Pass and Josephine County warrants for failing to appear in court for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Justin Weber was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

A Grants Pass motorist was injured in a weekend crash on Interstate 5 on the east side of the city. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 55 on Saturday at about 10:15 a.m.. Police said an investigation indicates a Honda Accord driven by 20-year-old Elijah Wayne-Darrow Myers left its travel lane, struck the center median, overcorrected, struck the guardrail, overcorrected and struck the center median again. According to OSP, Myers was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. The damaged car was towed into town. No citations or warnings were issued.

 

A Grants Pass motorist escaped injury when she rolled her vehicle off Redwood Highway in the Wilderville area. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash on US Highway 199 near Round Prairie Road on Saturday at 8:47 a.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicates 44-year-old Meghann Irene Serrato lost control of a Chevrolet Cobalt, left the highway and rolled until the car came to rest upside-down. Rural Metro Engine 7504 from the Wilderville Station arrived first to find the woman had already exited the vehicle with help from fellow motorists. According to OSP, Serrato denied medical attention and her car was hauled into Grants Pass by GoodFellas Towing.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested four motorists for impaired driving over the weekend in Josephine County. According to OSP, the first incident occurred on Saturday at 10:56 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Ford F-150 pickup driven by 44-year-old Trenton Lee Thompson on Williams Highway near Torrey Pines Road. Troopers said they stopped Thompson for a traffic violation and he displayed signs of impairment. The second incident happened on Saturday at midnight when troopers pulled over a Cadillac Escalade driven by 36-year-old Kendall Dawn Knox at the intersection of Redwood Avenue and Hubbard Lane. Troopers said they stopped Knox for multiple traffic violations and she exhibited signs of impairment. The third incident took place on Sunday around 1 a.m. when troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Silverado driven by 24-year-old Austin Michael Hooper on Highland Avenue near Midland Avenue. Troopers said they stopped Hooper for a traffic violation, he showed signs of impairment and performed poorly in sobriety tests. The fourth incident occurred on Sunday at 10:42 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Hyundai Accent driven by 26-year-old Jesus Armando Garcia of Cave Junction on Redwood Highway near East Watkins Street. Troopers said they stopped Garcia for a traffic violation, he showed signs of impairment and performed poorly in sobriety tests.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office -- assisted by the Oregon State Police -- jailed a man for multiple felony-level crimes following a weekend motor vehicle accident in south Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports 44-year-old Michael Robert Warren surrendered to deputies and state troopers at his parents' home in the 1200-block of Rogue River Highway on Saturday at 5:50 p.m.. Details about the incident were sketchy, but deputies said Warren was involved in a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident that resulted in injuries to at least one person on Saturday morning. The suspect reportedly threatened people with a pipe before fleeing the scene of the crash. No other details about the incident were available. Warren reportedly called OSP later in the day and said he wanted to turn himself in. Law enforcement went to his parents' residence and placed him into custody. Michael Warren was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Felony 2nd-Degree Assault, Felony Hit-and-Run, Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Reckless Driving. He was being held without bail.