Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested an Illinois Valley woman on a local felony warrant this week following a brief pursuit in Cave Junction. Sheriff's deputies eventually placed the 33-year-old female subject into custody at Taylor's Country Store on South Redwood Highway on Tuesday afternoon. Deputies said they spotted the woman who was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief in the downtown area and she took off running toward Taylor's. The suspect was located hiding in the restroom of the business and she was placed into custody without further incident. She was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail in lieu of posting $30,000. Jail records noted she was not to be released due to overcrowding.

 

Grants Pass Police issued several citations and evicted three people from city parks during Wednesday patrol checks. At Fruitdale Park, officers cited a camper for Fentanyl Possession and trespassed him for 30 days. Five campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network (UCAN). At Riverside Park, a camper was cited for Scattering Rubbish and Misuse of Open Spaces. She was issued a 30-day exclusion. Property and garbage abandoned by a man was removed from the park. Wet biohazard items that were infested by flies and maggots were disposed of at Southern Oregon Sanitation. Seventeen campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN. At Tussing Park, a woman was cited for Scattering Rubbish and Misuse of Open Spaces. She was trespassed for 30 days. Thirteen campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN. At Baker Park, officers cited the driver of an Oldsmobile for illegally parking in a boat trailer space. Two other people were warned for parking in boat trailer spaces.

 

Summer is here and Oregonians are eager to hike, camp, boat, climb and explore. In recognition of "Search and Rescue Month," several state agencies are sharing best practices on how to keep outdoor adventures safe for people and Oregon's scenic landscape. On average, more than 1,000 Search and Rescue (SAR) missions are conducted each year in Oregon. During the last decade, 99% of people needing SAR help lived outside the county where they were rescued. Lack of preparedness was often the common denominator. While traveling for a few hours or a week, people should know their physical limits and plan for activities that won't exceed their experience. Before heading out, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (ODEM) recommends best practices including Know the Trail and Conditions, Make a Plan and Tell Someone, Practice Situational Awareness, Listen to Your Body, Watch for Hazards, Stay on Marked Trails and Respect Trail Closures. Pack the Day Hike 10 Essentials including proper equipment, extra food, water and supplies. Leave no trace to minimize your impact on the environment. Stay in touch as there might not be cell coverage and reception on the trail. Wear proper shoes and prepare for the weather by bringing sun protection and lots of water on hot days. Practice water safety before you head out. Check water levels, tide levels, obstructions, local regulations and boating access.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man wanted by the Grants Pass Police Department this week after a welfare check on a woman residing at a home just east of the city. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the residence in the 2200-block of West Jones Creek Road around midday Tuesday. Deputies said they were requested to check on a woman who had a caregiver that was barred from contacting the woman due to a court order. On their way into the property, they contacted three people who were reportedly squatting on the land. One of those people was identified as 49-year-old man who was wanted by GPPD for probable cause of Felony 1st-Degree Theft and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle related to a recent criminal investigation. He was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for the mentioned charges plus Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a young man for probable cause of domestic violence after responding to a disturbance in the southeast part of the city this week. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 1400-block of Florence Lane late Tuesday afternoon. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that an 18-year-old former roommate had returned to the house to get his belongings. The woman had been advised to lock the doors and windows in case he returned after a previous criminal incident in which he fled before the arrival of law enforcement. According to the report, the young man refused to leave the premises and became verbally aggressive with two adults and two children who were inside the house. Upon arrival, officers contacted the suspect and placed him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for probable cause of Domestic Strangulation and was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police apprehended a man wanted on an out-of-state fugitive warrant during an early morning traffic stop in Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Toyota RAV-4 driven by a 34-year-old Rogue River man near the corner of 6th Street and Voorhies Way on Wednesday at 12:11 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation and discovered that the driver was wanted on a fugitive warrant out of Indiana. He was wanted for failing to appear in court for an unspecified felony-level crime. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant and he was facing extradition proceedings that will likely send him back to Indiana. His vehicle was released to a passenger.

 

The Oregon State Police was investigating a motor vehicle accident that occurred early yesterday near Kerby. On Wednesday just before 1 a.m., OSP, the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck in the 22,300-block of Redwood Highway. IVFD officials said arriving units found a truck that had crashed into a tree. They said one occupant was examined by medical personnel and denied transport to a local hospital. Jerry's Towing was called in to remove the vehicle and haul it to Cave Junction.

 

Pacificorp recently received the Emergency Response Award from Edison Electric Institute (EEI) in recognition of the company's response to the 2023 Smith River Complex fires that burned in Northern California and extreme Southern Oregon. During the 2023 event, Pacificorp enacted an emergency de-energization of roughly 14,000 customers in Crescent City and surrounding areas. Electricity was quickly restored to customers on a temporary basis using large generators to power substations that serve the communities, while the company continued to monitor the fires that burned through its transmission corridor. Power was eventually permanently restored to all customers after crews performed necessary repairs. Presented to EEI member companies twice a year, the Emergency Response Awards recognize recovery and assistance efforts of electric companies following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other natural events. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges during EEI's Board of Directors and CEO meeting held in conjunction with EEI's annual meeting and leadership forum. EEI President and CEO Dan Brouillette said Pacificorp's commitment to restoring power in a safe, efficient manner to the communities it serves following the Smith River Complex fires is admirable. He said the utility and its response team are extremely deserving of this well-earned recovery award.

 

The annual "Back to the 50s" celebration has rolled into Grants Pass this week, with all of the events taking place on Friday and Saturday. On Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., a pre-show car display is scheduled to happen at the Growers Market parking lot on F Street between 4th and 5th streets. There will be 50s music, kids games, hot rod games, prizes and lunch available for purchase. The Fabulous 50s Cruise-In Meet & Greet will take place on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Jimmy's Classic Drive-In at 515 NE E Street. On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., "The Fabulous 50s Charity Car Show" will occur at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. In addition to the beautiful cars on display, there will be a 50/50 raffle, 50s & 60s costume contests, kids games, hot rod games, merchandise booths and food vendors. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., there is a music concert featuring The Torpedoes in the Midway Park Gazebo. Co-sponsored by the Southern Oregon Corvette Association, there will be approximately 50 Corvettes on display. Event organizers -- The Rogue Valley Cruisers -- has awarded a total of more than $352,000 to local charities. Selected charities for the 2024 event include the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley, the Rogue Valley Humane Society and the Women's Crisis Support Team.