Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office recovered three stolen vehicles while evicting two squatters from a property near Grants Pass this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 500-block of Pinecrest Drive late Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said they spoke to the property owner who advised that he had multiple people living on his land that he did not know, and the property was for sale. A woman in a large fifth-wheel trailer told deputies she was invited to live on the property and help clean it up by a 66-year-old man she identified as "Donald Gregg." Gregg arrived on scene, explained he had been interested in buying the property with a VA loan and that he needed to clean it up so the loan would go through. He had the woman and some friends move in with him so they could help. However, the man did not have a realtor and had not yet applied for any loan. During the investigation, deputies located three stolen vehicles -- including a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a Polaris ATV -- on the property. They were towed away and the registered owners were contacted. Gregg was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Stolen Vehicles, 1st-Degree Theft, Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass as well as Probation Violation. The woman was cited to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. All the squatters were trespassed and had until noon yesterday to remove their belongings.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client this week on a statewide felony warrant for violating their post-prison supervision. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 45-year-old male subject at the Community Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Wednesday afternoon. Police said the man was at the office to check in with his corrections officer and he was unaware he was about to be arrested. They said he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation from an unspecified criminal conviction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for playing a dangerous game on Redwood Highway in southwest Grants Pass this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies were alerted to a male subject who kept crossing back and forth while dodging traffic on US Highway 199 near Dowell Road on Wednesday afternoon. Arriving deputies witnessed the incident and contacted the man who stated he crossed the highway only so he could cross the highway again to get back to the other side. One deputy commented that it was almost as if the man was playing the video game "Frogger" with real vehicles. Fortunately, no one got hurt. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

Quick action by a homeowner using two fire extinguishers saved a home in the Merlin area yesterday. On Thursday at 2:49 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire-Rescue and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 1,000-block of Cienaga Lane. Rural Metro officials said the fire that erupted in the attic of the home and quickly spread prompted a response that included three engine companies and two water tenders in addition to a Grants Pass engine and an AMR ambulance. Due to the immediate call to 9-1-1 as well as the quick and safe use of the fire extinguishers by the homeowner, damage was confined to the attic of the home. Crews were able to deal with the remaining embers scattered throughout the blown-in insulation, which can easily conceal fire. All the contents inside the home were saved and there were no injuries reported. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is assisting Rural Metro with the investigation. Officials said an attic ventilation fan was located near the ignition point.

 

The 2024 fire season is just around the corner and Rural Metro Fire Department is reminding Josephine County residents to be safe while burning outdoor debris. If you are still planning to use fire to reduce your debris piles, please make sure you do so safely. The current warm and dry conditions can cause a burn pile to escape control if not properly managed. Rural Metro is offering a few basic safety tips that will help reduce the chances of an outdoor burn escaping your control:
• Burn in the early morning hours when surrounding vegetation and air have the highest moisture content and winds are calm or light.
• Build a dirt fire break around the perimeter of the pile that is free of flammable vegetation.
• Keep piles small, manageable and away from structures, vehicles and miscellaneous yard clutter.
• Avoid burn piles in a remote part of your property that has limited access.
• Have a reliable water source on hand such as a charged garden hose.
• Stay in attendance of the burn so you can take action against any spread.
• Keep a shovel and charged cell phone handy at all times.

 

May is Wildfire Awareness Month and the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is encouraging all Oregonians to get prepared for the upcoming wildfire season. Creating defensible space is one of the most important things you can do to protect your home and increase the chances it will survive a wildfire. The State Fire Marshal offers free defensible space assessments to Oregonians who want to start creating defensible space or those who want to optimize their current plan. For a limited time, people living in select areas of the state may be eligible for a $250 payment after receiving an assessment. You can request an assessment and learn more at "oregondefensiblespace.org." A few projects you can consider this month include spacing and pruning trees; removing leaves, needles, wood, bark mulch and other debris from within 100 feet of buildings or to the property line; moving flammable material away from the outside of your home; preventing plants from growing directly under the eaves of your home; and keeping firewood and lumber at least 30 feet from any structure. During Wildfire Awareness Month, the OSFM and its partners are encouraging, empowering and informing Oregonians to help prevent and prepare for wildfire.

 

The Grants Pass Housing Advisory Committee will hold a Home Building Update for local developers next week. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 16th, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street. The Housing Advisory Committee has released its meeting agenda which includes Introductions and City Housing Development Goals. The next agenda item is Getting the Most Out of the City's Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Module. It includes Useful Information, Finding Topographical Features, Flood Plain, Locating Utilities and Tools to Know About. City staff will share Available Building Incentives and How to Find Them on the federal, state and local levels. There will also be a primer on Recent & Upcoming Development Code Changes for Middle Housing Land Division; Cottage Clusters, Accessory Dwelling Units & Plexes; and Open Space, Landscaping & Parking. Before the meeting is adjourned, City Planner Jason Maki will be available for Questions & Answers.

 

Hidden Valley High School is inviting the community to its popular annual plant sale today and Saturday. The event -- hosted by the Hidden Valley Future Farmers of America (FFA) -- promises an array of offerings to suit every gardening enthusiast. You'll find a wide selection of items including vegetable starts priced at $1 each, bedding plants available for $2 and stunning hanging baskets ideal for Mother's Day gifts, priced at $30 each. The plant sale not only offers an opportunity to enhance your garden, it also supports the Hidden Valley FFA. Your participation directly contributes to the FFA's initiatives and programs, providing leadership, personal growth and career training through agricultural education. Don't miss out on this chance to beautify your garden while supporting a worthy cause. The Hidden Valley plant sale is open both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Hidden Valley High School is located at 651 Murphy Creek Road in Murphy.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office recovered three stolen vehicles while evicting two squatters from a property near Grants Pass late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 500-block of Pinecrest Drive on Wednesday at 4:05 p.m.. Deputies said they spoke to the property owner who advised that he had multiple people living on his land that he did not know, and the property was for sale. A woman in a large fifth-wheel trailer told deputies she was invited to live on the property and help clean it up by a 66-year-old man she identified as "Donald Gregg." Gregg arrived on scene, explained he had been interested in buying the property with a VA loan and that he needed to clean it up so the loan would go through. He had the woman and some friends move in with him so they could help. However, the man did not have a realtor and had not yet applied for any loan. During the investigation, deputies located three stolen vehicles -- including a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a Polaris ATV -- on the property. They were towed away and the registered owners were contacted. Gregg was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Stolen Vehicles, 1st-Degree Theft, Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass as well as Probation Violation. The woman was cited to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. All the squatters were trespassed and had until noon today to remove their belongings.