Local News

The Grants Pass City Council approved a Community Development Block Grant report, annexed a property into the city, okayed a FEMA compliance measure and amended certain fee schedules during its regular business meeting last night. The City Council first approved a resolution to accept the CDBG annual report for 2023. Federal regulations require the city to annually assess the program's accomplishments and describe any obstacles encountered. The City received $361,709 in program funds in October of 2023 through September of 2024 to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment by expanding economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents. The last day to submit the report to HUD is December 27th. The City Council then approved an ordinance annexing property located at 1907 Fruitdale Drive into the city limits. The applicant -- Home Bridging, Inc, -- sought the annexation so the property can be connected to municipal utilities. A pre-implementation compliance measure mandated by FEMA requires impacted Oregon communities to demonstrate how development within the special flood hazard area and riparian buffer zone is compliant with the endangered species act. It was adopted by resolution. Grants Pass has approximately 1,088 properties affected. Letters will be sent to affected property owners about the coming changes and notifying those affected about future meetings to explain the requirement. Annual cost-of-living fee schedule adjustments was increased by around 3%. Rebecca Cavanaugh was appointed to the Parks Advisory Committee. Grants Pass’ new sister city Autlan de Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico, was recognized. Incidentally, that is the hometown of famous rock guitarist Carlos Santana.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client on a statewide felony warrant early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 54-year-old David Edward Anderson, Jr., at the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street at 9:53 a.m. Wednesday. Police said Anderson's corrections officer reported that his client was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a conviction for a weapon offense. He was contacted in the office lobby and placed into custody, apparently unaware that he was about to be arrested. Anderson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

A Josephine County Jail inmate is facing additional charges after he was served with an outside felony warrant yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies served a Klamath County felony warrant on 34-year-old Jonathan Javier Montes at the jail facility on Wednesday at 3:20 p.m.. Deputies said Montes' corrections officer was contacted by the Klamath County District Attorney's Office about the warrant, which listed a charge of Probation Violation related to a 2021 arrest for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to the report, Montes was already in custody for violating his probation related to a local arrest for an unspecified crime. Montes continues to be held at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man last night after he continually called the 9-1-1 Communications Center to report his estranged wife allegedly injuring him. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 800-block of Mesman Drive on Wednesday around 8:15 p.m.. Police said the 50-year-old male subject initially called 9-1-1 to report that he came home and his wife attacked him by scratching him on the chest. He hung up and then called back, stating that he wanted to pursue charges against his wife. He kept calling back to the Dispatch Center, demanding to speak to a supervisor. Officers arrived on scene and determined there was an ongoing conflict between the man and his wife of 30 years. She had packed her belongings into a Subaru and was preparing to move to Washington. However, the man decided he did not want her to take the car and a verbal altercation between the two transpired in their yard. Further investigation determined that the husband pushed his wife when she walked past him and she grabbed him by the bathrobe before he shoved her to the ground and they wrestled before separating. Officers said no probable cause existed to arrest either party for minor mutual combat that did not result in significant injuries. Not satisfied, the man called 9-1-1 several more times. The husband advised he was going to call the Attorney General and file a complaint that police were not doing their job. He was eventually placed into custody and lodged in jail without bail for Improper Use of 9-1-1.

 

Two motorists were hurt when their vehicles collided in the New Hope area last night. On Wednesday at 6:11 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the two-vehicle crash at the intersection of New Hope and Stringer Gap roads. Rural Metro officials said an Oregon State Police trooper arrived immediately and began rendering aid. First arriving rescue crews from Rural Metro triaged the scene and ordered a second ambulance from AMR. Both drivers were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Officials said the intersection was partially blocked, but traffic was minimally impacted. Foggy conditions were present at the scene, but the exact cause of the crash was under investigation by OSP.

 

Authorities were investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a home near Cave Junction last night. On Wednesday at 7:48 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 1,000-block of Queen of Bronze Road. Upon arrival, emergency units encountered a fully-involved residential structure. IVFD officials said the fire was fully suppressed and overhaul operations were completed, but the house was completely destroyed. No injuries were reported, but the American Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to one adult occupant. Rural Metro Fire Department initiated a response to the fire, but the request was cancelled and their units were redeployed to their designated service area.

 

Nearly two weeks after a man was murdered in Wolf Creek, the Oregon State Police has finally released official information about the incident. On November 22nd at 2 p.m., OSP and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported stabbing on Grave Creek Road near milepost 7. OSP said 34-year-old Daniel Wayne Finney of Wolf Creek was located near his vehicle with multiple stab wounds. They said Finney was able to communicate with the reporting party prior to passing away. Investigators arrived on scene and located additional evidence of the crime before identifying 29-year-old Keandra Demetrius Blanding of Springfield as the primary suspect. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office requested the OSP Major Crimes Section lead the investigation. At approximately midnight, detectives located Blanding's vehicle in White City. About an hour later, Blanding was arrested and lodged at the jail facility in Grants Pass. On November 24th, Blanding was indicted by a Josephine County grand jury on charges of 2nd-Degree Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. OSP was assisted by the Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Medical Examiner and the OSP Forensics Division. Due to the ongoing criminal prosecution, no further information is available for release at this time.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for both old and new crimes after he was caught trying to break into a mental health and drug treatment facility in the downtown area this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 36-year-old Eric Thomas Hermes for the incident at the Options for Southern Oregon facility in the 400-block of SW 5th Street on Tuesday night. Police said a caller from a neighboring business reported observing a male subject later identified as Hermes unlawfully entering the Options Hub and trying to get inside the building through a window. All gates to the property had been locked and they were clearly marked with "No Trespassing" signs. An Options employee was contacted and arrived at the facility, identifying Hermes as the suspect. He was found to be wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation related to past convictions for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. According to the report, the convicted felon initially provided law enforcement with a false name. He was also found to be in possession of a spring-assisted knife which is a direct violation of his post-prison supervision. Hermes was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Attempted 2nd-Degree Burglary, Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, Criminal Trespass and Furnishing False Information to Police.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding felony warrant while investigating a trespassing complaint at a home on the west side of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the call involving 34-year-old Marcus Allen Weeks in the 1900-block of SW Betty Lane on Tuesday. Police said a man called 9-1-1 and reported that his wife allowed her son to stay at their home about a week ago. Since that time, the man said his stepson had stolen several items and changed his behavior. He met officers in his driveway because he did not want to go back inside the house where his stepson was still sleeping. The complainant wanted Weeks trespassed from the residence. He disclosed that he believed his stepson was wanted on a warrant out of Jackson County. It was confirmed that he was wanted on a felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Burglary, 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. Weeks was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was also trespassed from his mother's and stepfather's residence.