Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for attacking his roommate at an adult foster care facility in the northeast part of the city last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance at the home in the 900-block of NE Campus Drive on Sunday at about 9:45 p.m.. Police said 21-year-old Seth Christion Haylett and another man share a room at the adult foster home. They got into a disagreement on Sunday afternoon and Haylett attacked the roommate before fleeing the area. The facility manager was advised to call 9-1-1 when Haylett returned. Haylett returned that night, the manager called and officers responded. The suspect was interviewed and admitted to attacking his roommate in an attempt to injure him. The Josephine County District Attorney's Office was consulted before officers placed Haylett into custody and lodged him in jail for Attempted 4th-Degree Assault.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman for obstructing traffic on a road just east of Grants Pass last weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident involving 37-year-old Jessica Shawnae Ryan Knowlton in the 2100-block of Foothill Boulevard near Pearce Park Road on Sunday around 2 p.m.. Deputies said multiple motorists including a fire engine company reported a female subject was standing on the white line of the road and she seemed to be "out of it." The callers said they had to slowly drive around the woman because she wouldn't move. Deputies arrived on scene and placed Knowlton into custody. Knowlton was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct. She was being held without bail.

 

Firefighters from two local agencies contained an open burn that had escaped in the Wilderville area last weekend. On Sunday at 12:53 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to the incident in the 400-block of Daily Lane off Riverbanks Road. The response was at the request of the landowner. Aided by water in a nearby pond, firefighters were able to quickly halt the spread of the fire at approximately one-third of an acre. Rural Metro officials said the 2025 fire season will start on June 1st, if not sooner. They said many landowners are working to remove vegetation and winter storm damage using fire -- work that is aimed at reducing fire intensity around homes during peak season incidents. While most spring open burns are conducted successfully by the majority of local landowners, people are urged to follow these recommendations: construct a vegetation-free ring down to dirt around the burn pile, have a reliable water source on-site, have a shovel or other tools on-site, carry a charged cell phone to call for help in case of spread, burn only in the morning to avoid afternoon winds, stay in attendance with the burn, fully extinguish remaining ash with water and then check for heat using bare hands to prevent future rekindling and escape.

 

The American Red Cross encourages the public to schedule their May donation appointment before summer gets into full swing. Year-end ceremonies, sporting events and celebrations are expected to fill evenings and weekends, but patients are counting on donors to also make blood donations a priority. Emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time, without a moment's notice. By giving blood to the Red Cross, donors can help ensure blood is ready for patients in the most critical situations. Give blood or platelets during "Trauma Awareness Month" to keep hospitals prepared for all transfusion needs including emergencies. Type O blood donors and donors giving platelets are especially needed right now. Make blood donation a priority in May and help accident victims and other patients in critical situations. Schedule a time to give now by visiting "RedCrossBlood.org" calling 1-(800)-RED-CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry and other fire prevention experts are urging everyone to exercise caution when disposing of yard debris this spring. There have already been 32 escaped debris burns reported on ODF-protected lands in 2025. That's nearly double the amount compared to this time last year. The average size of an escaped spring debris burn is about one acre -- or the size of a football field -- and generally requires suppression from a local fire agency. Over 75% of wildfires in Oregon are human-caused, with escaped debris burns topping the list. With forecasters becoming increasingly confident that this season will be hotter and drier than normal, now is the time to practice wildfire prevention. As grass and vegetation begin to dry out, the risk of a fire creeping away from a debris burn pile increases. Make sure to weigh your options and have all of the fire prevention tools in place before lighting the burn pile or burn barrel. Besides burning, preferable options for brush removal include composting or recycling. Check with your local disposal company for recycling options. But if burning now is the only option to dispose of yard debris, fire prevention officials ask people to follow safe burning practices. If your debris burn spreads out of control, you may have to pay for suppression costs as well as any damage to your neighbors' properties, which can be extremely expensive.

 

Last Friday, multiple first responder agencies came together in support of the Asante Three Rivers Medical Center Emergency Department's annual drill to evaluate their ability to handle multiple patients at once. The practice scenario set the stage of a Boatnik incident involving a sprint boat that crashed into a crowd at Riverside Park. The resulting injuries involved 26 people, all student actors from Grants Pass High School. Rescue crews were plunged into the job of rapid triage, treatment and transport of the injured who were subsequently flooded into the local ER. The scene was staged in the parking lot south of the Grants Pass Clinic. It involved agencies led by Grants Pass Fire & Rescue including American Medical Response, Rural Metro Fire Department, Jackson County Fire District #1, Applegate Valley Fire District, Illinois Valley Fire District, Williams Rural Fire Protection District, Mercy Flights, Cal-Ore Life Flight out of Brookings and the Southern Oregon Public Safety Chaplains. Officials said the training mission was "an overall success."

 

AllCare Health -- in partnership with its Jackson County Community Advisory Council -- has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market. This investment will support the introduction of $10 "Protein Bucks" for SNAP/EBT customers, providing improved access to local, protein-rich food options at the Market's Medford and Ashland locations. The Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market exists to support local farmers and artisans by providing space to sell their products directly to the public. The market promotes agricultural education, connects consumers with fresh produce and handcrafted goods, and fosters the growth of farming and crafting skills, especially among younger generations. The Market also serves has a resource for members to share knowledge and it supports community development efforts throughout Jackson County and surrounding areas.

 

Grants Pass Police have apprehended a man who was allegedly hiding from law enforcement because he was wanted on a statewide felony warrant related to domestic violence. According the Police Department, officers arrested 45-year-old Kevin Joseph Christensen, II, at a home in the 2900-block of NW Highland Avenue on Saturday at 4:48 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that Christensen's mother has been hiding her son for two months and they won't answer the door because he is "on the run." The caller was concerned because her children were there and she was worried for their safety. Christensen was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a previous assault conviction in which he allegedly tried to kill his ex-girlfriend. He was also wanted locally for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Officers arrived at the house, contacted Christensen and placed him into custody without incident. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people after a shoplifting incident at a store in the Grants Pass Shopping Center late last week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint at Famous Footwear on Friday afternoon. Police said a woman they identified as "Jessica Eaglen" was observed stealing and placing items in her car parked in front of the store. They detained her and her boyfriend whom they identified as 35-year-old Michael Anthony Hughes-Masters. Hughes-Masters was found to be wanted on two Jackson County warrants for Methamphetamine Possession and Criminal Trespass. He was also found to be in possession of a white crystal substance that field-tested positive as meth. It was seized for destruction. Hughes-Masters was lodged at the Josephine County Jail while Eaglen was cited to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft and released. Both suspects were trespassed from Famous Footwear.