Local News

UPDATE: DONALD GALE HAS BEEN FOUND AND HE IS SAFE.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was seeking public assistance in locating a missing Murphy area man. The Sheriff's Office said they received a report that 73-year-old Donald Albert Gale was missing early yesterday. Gale left his residence in the 5,000-block of Williams Highway in the early morning hours on Sunday, March 30th, in a silver Dodge pickup with Oregon license plate WBB 795. Gale is described as a white male adult standing 5-feet-11-inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Donald Gale is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Wolf Creek man this week for assaulting and mistreating his father. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 35-year-old Jared Lee Gunn for the incident at a home in the 400-block of Warner Road on Monday morning. Deputies said they responded to the incident location after a property owner called 9-1-1 to report that her tenant was being assaulted and shoved down by his son. The caller told dispatchers she has heard screaming in the past and witnessed the son become violent with his father. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Gunn and his father who complained of pain in his right leg after being pushed down. The father seemed reluctant to press charges against his son, but he admitted that the man had hit him with a baseball bat in the past and he did not report it. The son has been acting as a caregiver for his father. Following the investigation, deputies placed Gunn into custody, transported him to Grants Pass and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Criminal Mistreatment and misdemeanor 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant in the downtown area this week. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 32-year-old Clifford Ray Rapstine, Jr., near the Purple Parrot on SE J Street late Monday afternoon. Police said they contacted Rapstine during a patrol check and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation related to a past conviction for an unspecified crime. Rapstine started walking away from officers when they questioned him, but he eventually surrendered to them and was placed into custody. During a consent search, he was found to be in possession of "lots" of drug paraphernalia. Rapstine was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Additional charges of drug possession were referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for stealing a vehicle from his elderly stepfather in a remote location near Wolf Creek this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident in the 700-block of King Mountain Trail on Monday afternoon. Deputies said a preliminary investigation determined that 60-year-old Douglas Don Cleveland, II, had forced his way into his father's home recently and refused to leave. The father woke up early yesterday to find his GMC Sierra had been taken by his stepson. He did not have permission to drive the pickup due to a drug issue. According to the report, Cleveland had been arrested with a stolen vehicle at the Manzanita Rest Area off Interstate 5 in late February. Deputies located the stolen pickup later in the day in an unspecified location and placed Cleveland into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. He was being held without bail.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol is preparing for warmer weather and an influx of people enjoying recreation on the Rogue River. This means clearing river hazards like a fallen tree near Dodge Bridge. The warmer weather can also mean higher water flows and more river debris. Although the weather is getting warmer, the water remains very cold so make sure you have the appropriate protective equipment. The Oregon State Marine Board has a great resource for staying safe and prepared. To report water hazards and check your river route before hitting the water, visit "oregon-boating-obstructions-geo.hub.arcgis.com." As always, keep safety first when on the water. Boat sober, wear your life jacket and enjoy the river responsibly.

 

OnTrack Rogue Valley is pleased to announce the opening of its Emergency Lodging Program and the relocation and expansion of its Outpatient Treatment Facility in Grants Pass. OnTrack officials said these new facilities represent a significant step toward addressing the urgent need for substance abuse treatment and temporary housing, offering hope and healing to individuals and families in Southern Oregon. The new Emergency Lodging Program is designed to serve as a critical bridge for individuals who are unhoused and waiting for residential treatment. Currently, 398 individuals are on the waitlist for one of OnTrack's residential treatment beds and many lack stable housing to support their recovery journey. The Grants Pass Emergency Lodging Facility will provide 12 single-occupancy rooms with keypad locks for privacy and safety, ADA-accessible units to ensure inclusivity for all individuals, shared amenities designed to foster community and dignity, and on-site case management to connect residents with treatment and resources. This program builds on the success of OnTrack's Emergency Lodging Program in Medford, which has already helped 173 individuals move from the streets to treatment and long-term recovery.

 

The Oregon Department of Transportation has announced a major construction project on the Highway 99 Rogue River Bridge in Gold Hill will start next year. ODOT will be improving the historic 1927 bridge that crosses the Rogue just east of Gold Hill. This bridge receives heavy pedestrian traffic as it also provides access between the city and a mobile home park. It needs repairs to stay open. An ODOT contractor will widen the existing 20-foot-wide bridge deck to 24 feet and upgrade the existing timber walkway for pedestrians to make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The goal is to remove the posted weight restriction, improve safety and mobility for all modes of transportation on this critical crossing into Gold Hill and the Sams Valley area. The new bridge deck will be wider and stronger to accommodate freight, transit, emergency vehicles and the traveling public. ODOT crews performed a bridge inspection last night in preparation for the work. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2026 and run through Summer 2027. Motorists can expect a full bridge closure throughout most of the project.

 

The 22nd Annual Art Along the Rogue Chalk-Painting and Music Festival will happen the first weekend of October, but the City of Grants Pass is searching for artists right now. Join other chalk artists and turn the area of 5th and H streets into an outdoor display of art. This year's theme is "Time Warp: When Past Meets Future." The Art Along the Rogue Committee will review artist applications to determine who might receive a modest stipend. One or two "premier" artists will be chosen to work on a 12-by-12-foot square. Up to 10 "featured" artists and amateur youth teams will be picked to work on 10-by-10-foot squares. All other artists will work on 8-by-8-foot squares at the "volunteer" level. Since its inception in 2003, Art Along the Rogue has become one of Grants Pass' premier community events and one of the leading street chalk and music festivals in Oregon, attracting thousands of people to the city every fall. For more information, please contact Mike Zacchino at (541)-450-6511 or by email at "mzacchino@grantspassoregon.gov."

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Wolf Creek man early yesterday for assaulting and mistreating his father. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 35-year-old Jared Lee Gunn for the incident at a home in the 400-block of Warner Road on Monday around 8:30 a.m.. Deputies said they responded to the incident location after a property owner called 9-1-1 to report that her tenant was being assaulted and shoved down by his son. The caller told dispatchers she has heard screaming in the past and witnessed the son become violent with his father. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Gunn and his father who complained of pain in his right leg after being pushed down. The father seemed reluctant to press charges against his son, but he admitted that the man had hit him with a baseball bat in the past and he did not report it. The son has been acting as a caregiver for his father. Following the investigation, deputies placed Gunn into custody, transported him to Grants Pass and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Criminal Mistreatment and misdemeanor 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was being held without bail.