Local News

Sheriff's Deputies Snared Woman for Bad Behavior at CJ Grocery Outlet
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman for her bad behavior at a Cave Junction retailer early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies were alerted to the incident at the Grocery Outlet on South Redwood Highway on Monday shortly before 7 a.m.. Deputies said the Grocery Outlet manager called 9-1-1 to report that 29-year-old Brittney Anne McGuire arrived at the store and became aggressive toward their employees. He advised the woman ripped a sign off the wall and threw it against the window. Further investigation revealed that McGuire was punching the front door and yelling that the store manager "needed to die." She was also throwing items at nearby vehicles. Upon arrival, deputies placed McGuire into custody and transported her to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged for Disorderly Conduct. She was being held without bail.
Posted on 10/22/24 11:24AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Woman on Five Warrants Upon Release from Hospital
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on five outstanding warrants as she was released from the hospital late last night. The Police Department reports officers placed 40-year-old Erika Ann Vineyard into custody at Three Rivers Medical Center on Monday at 11:05 p.m.. Police said Vineyard was a patient at the hospital for undisclosed reasons and they requested to be contacted when she was ready to be released. Vineyard was wanted on three Jackson County warrants for two counts of failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to impaired driving arrests and one count of failing to appear in court for Driving While Suspended. She was also wanted on two Medford warrants for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving and Criminal Suspended Driving. Vineyard was lodged on the warrants at the Josephine County Jail where her bail was set at $115,000.
Posted on 10/22/24 11:23AM by Sam Marsh
 

OSP Arrested Motorist for DUII and More after Hit & Run Crash on I-5
The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and more early yesterday after she struck another vehicle on Interstate 5 in the Sunny Valley area and fled the scene. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 73 on Monday at 8:40 a.m.. Troopers said a 28-year-old woman was driving a Nissan sedan when she struck a Chevrolet Cobalt driven by a 63-year-old man and did not stop. The suspect was located a short time later, pulled over and found to be impaired. According to OSP, there were no injuries reported -- but both vehicles sustained damage. The suspect was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. She was cited to appear in court and released, but her car was impounded.
Posted on 10/22/24 11:22AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Issued Several Citations at City's Designated Campgrounds
Grants Pass Police issued several citations and trespassed one person during patrol checks at the city's two designated campgrounds early yesterday. At the NE 7th Street campground, four people were cited for violations involving Utilization of Space. It was the second such citation for one woman who was given a 30-day exclusion from the campsite. One man was cited for Marijuana Possession and another man was cited for Scattering Rubbish. One camp was removed as there were numerous syringes and other drug paraphernalia observed inside the tent. No one claimed responsibility. At the SE J Street campground, a man and woman were both cited for violations involving Utilization of Space.
Posted on 10/22/24 11:20AM by Sam Marsh
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Josephine County Sheriff Seeking Public Help in Locating Two Missing Hunters
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UPDATE: MISSING MEN HAVE BEEN LOCATED.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was seeking public assistance in locating two men who had not returned from a weekend hunting trip. The Sheriff's Office reports 71-year-old Donald Pratt and 39-year-old Eric Pratt went hunting in the Illinois Valley early Sunday. Their vehicle was captured on cameras, it is believed they went up Lone Mountain Road in O'Brien and may be near the Sourdough Campground. They are in a white Toyota pickup with a white canopy with Oregon license plate 267 CZH. Donald Pratt is described as a white male adult, 6-feet-tall and 240 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Eric Pratt is described as a white male adult, 6-feet-4-inches tall and 300 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these two men is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123. Please reference Case #24-25041.
Posted on 10/22/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Seek Identity of Burglar Who Broke into Staples Store Early Monday
Authorities are seeking the identity of a burglar who broke into the Staples at the Grants Pass Shopping Center early yesterday. The Grants Pass Police Department reports a lone burglar broke through the store's front window just after 2 a.m. on Monday. Police said the burglar broke into display cabinets and took electronic items before fleeing. The unidentified subject now has numerous brand new electronics. GPPD has video of the incident on its Facebook page. If anyone knows or suspects who this burglar may be, they are encouraged to contact Officer Payne at (541)-450-6260. Please reference Case #24-39341. According to GPPD, teamwork and citizen involvement are key to community policing and public safety.
Posted on 10/22/24 6:38AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Motorist for Felony DUII after Weekend Fruitdale Crash
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for felony impaired driving last weekend after he crashed into another vehicle and fled the scene on foot. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to the collision at the corner of Axtell and Overland drives on Sunday at 6:50 p.m.. Police said a 32-year-old male subject was intoxicated while driving a vehicle that crashed into another vehicle head-on at low speed. They said the complainant reported the subject got out of his vehicle, was yelling at people and running around. The man kicked down a fence and ran away down a pedestrian trail. Officers searched the area and located a man matching the suspect's description. The subject confessed to being impaired and fleeing the scene of the crash. He was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. There was no damage to the fence and little damage to the other vehicle.
Posted on 10/22/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Young Woman for Stealing Skateboard from Big 5 Store
Grants Pass Police arrested a young woman for attempting to steal a skateboard from a local sporting goods store last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at Big 5 Sporting Goods off NE Agness Avenue on Sunday around 10:20 a.m.. Police said 20-year-old Brianna Marie Bailey entered Big 5 and concealed a skateboard valued at $70 under her jacket. She passed all points of sale and was contacted by officers on the Grants Pass Parkway near NE Beacon Drive. According to the report, the theft was captured on video surveillance. Bailey was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft. The stolen skateboard was returned to Big 5 and the thief was trespassed from the store.
Posted on 10/22/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh
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Wet Conditions Contributed to Crashes on Interstate 5 in Sunny Valley Area
Wet driving conditions contributed to two motor vehicle accidents on Interstate 5 in the Sunny Valley area early yesterday. On Monday at 7:05 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of I-5 near Exit 71. Rural Metro officials said the driver of a semi-truck tractor without a trailer lost control after the driver did not slow down for the rain-covered road surface. Two occupants were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with minor injuries. A lack of seatbelt use also may have contributed to the injuries. On Monday at 9:18 a.m., Rural Metro and AMR responded to a rollover crash in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 73. With help from 3 Boys Towing, the driver was extricated from the collapsed cab of a pickup that landed on its roof. Using a combination of lifting the truck and enlarging the interior space of the cab using specialized tools, the driver was freed in about 25 minutes. Both the driver and a juvenile passenger who were wearing seatbelts were transported by AMR to the hospital with minor injuries. OSP was investigating the cause of both crashes.
Posted on 10/22/24 6:26AM by Sam Marsh
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GPPD Issued Citations and Warnings in Traffic Safety Operation near GPHS
The Grants Pass Police Department issued numerous citations and warnings during a traffic safety enforcement operation near the high school late last week. In response to complaints about poor driving behavior around Grants Pass schools, the Police Department conducted the Friday operation on NE 8th and 9th streets, resulting in 29 traffic citations and 20 warnings. The citations were issued for failing to yield to pedestrians, using cell phones while driving, speeding and failing to wear seatbelts. GPPD officials said additional operations are planned for the near future to help keep local streets safe, especially around schools. They said please drive safely, avoid a ticket and save lives.
Posted on 10/22/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh
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Salvation Army GP Launches Program to Combat Southern Oregon Homelessness
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The Salvation Army Grants Pass has announced the launch of its AmeriCorps Program, funded by a $270,000 AmeriCorps grant after receiving an initial planning grant of $74,000. This program will place 10 full-time AmeriCorps members at key service locations throughout Southern Oregon including The Salvation Army, Rogue Retreat and Rivers Edge Charter School (REACH) to address homelessness and housing instability. The AmeriCorps members focus will be on workforce development, housing stability, and providing critical resources to help individuals overcome barriers, secure stable housing, and achieve economic stability through education and employment. The newly placed AmeriCorps members and their roles are as follows: Bronson McAllister: Rogue Retreat Volunteer Coordinator; Shawn Kyker: Rogue Retreat Life Skills Coordinator; Lauren Hafterson: The Salvation Army Medford Volunteer Coordinator; Mana Kaiu: The Salvation Army Medford Job Skills Coordinator; Jack Bowen: The Salvation Army Medford Wrap Around Coordinator; Zoe Billings: REACH Student Success Grants Pass; and Karl Ketley: The Salvation Army Grants Pass Workforce Coordinator The Salvation Army will provide comprehensive oversight, ensuring members receive support and training to achieve program goals and have enriching experiences.
Posted on 10/22/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh
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USFS: Campfire Restrictions Decrease to Stage One on Wild and Scenic Rogue River
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Due to recent precipitation and an extended forecast that indicates cooler and wetter conditions, officials with the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management and Oregon Department of Forestry have decreased campfire restrictions on the Wild and Scenic Rogue River. The Wild section of the Rogue flows from Grave Creek to the mouth of Watson Creek. Effective immediately, campfires are allowed in fire pans below the high-water mark from Marial downstream to Watson Creek. All ashes must be carried out. Smoking is only permitted while on watercraft on waterways or in area that are on vegetation-free sand and gravel bars located between the river and high-water mark. The BLM administers the stretch of the river between Grave Creek and Marial where ODF Southwest provides initial attack for new fires. The Forest Service manages from Marial downriver to Watson Creek. Officials said these new restrictions will be in place until November 30th unless rescinded sooner. In addition, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has moved to "low" fire danger, rescinding all general forest fire conditions and allowing campfires in dispersed campsites while remaining at Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1.
Posted on 10/22/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
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