Local News

Grants Pass police officers had their hands full while patrolling city parks on Wednesday. The Police Department reports officers responded to an animal complaint at Lawnridge Park on NW Hawthorne Avenue at about 12:35 p.m. yesterday. Police said a male camper's female dog broke off its anchored leash and bit an 11-year-old child who was on the swing set at the park playground. The child's mother took them to the hospital for medical care while the father got into an argument and then physical fight with the camper. No one was hurt. Officers cited the camper for Nuisance Dog and No Dog License. He was issued a 30-day exclusion from the park while the female dog and four puppies were taken to the Josephine County Animal Shelter for quarantine. Meanwhile at Tussing Park, a total of 40 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and a man was cited for Misuse of Park Open Spaces. An e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network (UCAN). At Morrison Centennial Park, a total of 14 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and a man was cited for Buffer Zone Violation. An e-mail was sent to UCAN. At Fruitdale Park, eight campsites were posted for Illegal Camping, a man was cited for Scattering Rubbish and a woman was cited for Misuse of Open Spaces. The man was trespassed from the park for 30 days. An e-mail was sent to UCAN.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man this week for attacking his stepfather at a home in the south part of the city. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 400-block of West Harbeck Road on Tuesday evening. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report that his 22-year-old stepson shoved him multiple times with force and struck him with closed fists, causing substantial pain. They said the caller did not require medical attention, but he wanted to press charges. Upon arrival, officers interviewed both parties and the stepson admitted to making physical contact with his stepfather. The cause of the family altercation was not disclosed, but a woman at the home stated she would testify against the suspect in court, if necessary. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and Physical Harassment. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a man this week for causing a hazard for drivers on Interstate 5 near the Hugo exit. OSP reports troopers responded to the incident in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 65 on Tuesday night. Troopers said they encountered a 67-year-old man who was throwing pieces of wood onto the freeway, creating a hazard and endangering passing motorists. After contacting the subject and speaking with a witness, the subject was placed into custody and found to be in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine. According to OSP, there were no injuries and no damage to any vehicles reported. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct, Reckless Endangering and Possession of Meth. He was being held without bail. His vehicle -- a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup -- was towed.

 

Crews from multiple agencies stopped a vegetation fire near Cave Junction from moving into a residential area late yesterday. On Wednesday at 5:08 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, Rural Metro Fire Department and Oregon Department of Forestry responded to the two-alarm blaze in the 27,000-block of Redwood Highway just south of Cave Junction. IVFD officials said arriving units found the fire rapidly moving toward adjacent properties occupied by a few homes. The fire was extinguished, with a quarter of an acre burned. There were no injuries reported. In a final update issued by ODF at 7 p.m., officials said the fire was fully-lined and 85% mopped up. They said firefighters were remaining on scene to conduct an investigation.

 

Everyone can fish, crab or clam for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday of this coming weekend. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, no fishing or shellfish licenses or tags are required on those two days. Both Oregon residents and non-residents can fish for free. Oregon State Parks also offers free parking and camping on Saturday, June 1st. All other state fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Guide for regulations. Remember to check "MyODFW.com" for any in-season regulation changes, especially for salmon and steelhead fishing. Free Fishing Weekend is also a great time to try crabbing or clamming --"MyODFW.com" has all the information you need to get started.

 

The US Forest Service is investing more than $24 million in 13 projects across Oregon to make at-risk communities' homes, businesses and infrastructure more resilient to wildfires. Four of those projects are located in Southern Oregon. This funding allocation is part of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to protect communities and tribal lands across the United States that are at risk for wildfires. The biggest winner locally is a project called the "Firebrand Resiliency Collective, Community Building, Education and Implementation for the Rogue Valley" which is receiving more than $1.465 million to implement a cost-share program to harden structure-adjacent landscaping, augment existing defensible space efforts and reduce structural ignition risk. Josephine County Emergency Management will receive $250,000 for collaborative planning efforts intended for providing the community a way for reducing their wildfire risk and building resiliency to the impacts of wildfires. The Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council is receiving nearly $250,000 to update the 2002 Applegate Fire Plan, which spans two counties and three fire protection districts. The City of Grants Pass will receive $191,700 to create a Grants Pass Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

 

Total payroll employment in Jackson County rose by 470 jobs in April, with job gains estimated in most published industries. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 102,415 people working in Jackson County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 4.8% -- which was down slightly from 4.9% in March. Employment rose in construction, health care & social assistance, leisure & hospitality, manufacturing, and professional & business services. Government employment also edged up by 50 jobs. Gains were posted in federal, state and local government. The only published industry losing jobs was retail trade, down by 30. Over the past year, payroll employment in Jackson County fell by 550 jobs, a decline of 0.6%. Since April 2023, industries adding jobs included private education and health services (+790), and construction (+190). Government employment climbed by 410 jobs in Jackson County over the past year.

 

With no action items on the agenda Wednesday, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners listened to public comments during a 19-minute meeting. During Requests and Comments from Citizens, Board Chair John West and veteran Commissioner Dan DeYoung heard few disparaging words from those who spoke. Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger was absent. Most people were interested in praising the outstanding work of the Grants Pass Active Club in putting on another great Boatnik Weekend. Others spoke about the great community support for the annual festival, and promoted upcoming events such as Airport Days on Father's Day Weekend, Independence Day, Back to the 50s, summer car shows and the Josephine County Fair. Commissioner DeYoung remarked that everyone should attempt to support these community events. Without public support, he said they will eventually go away.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was seeking public assistance in locating a missing North Valley area man. Sheriff's officials said 36-year-old Adam Richard Larson was last known to have walked away from his residence in the 2400-block of Hugo Road at approximately 5 a.m. on Tuesday. He is believed to be in the Merlin/Hugo Road area. Larson is described as white male adult, 6-feet-tall and 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Adam Larson is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.