Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorcyclist for driving recklessly and hitting a sport utility vehicle in the Williams Highway Shopping Plaza last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to the two-vehicle crash in the 1600-block of Highway 238 on Sunday shortly after 4 p.m.. Police said a 40-year-old male subject was riding a Kawasaki motorcycle at a high rate of speed through the Safeway parking lot when he struck a Honda CRV, which caused him to be launched from the bike into a field behind Abby's Pizza. Numerous witnesses stated and video evidence showed the man's driving behavior was reckless and had the potential to put bystanders in danger. One witness said they saw the motorcycle traveling at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour near Allen Creek Road a short time before the crash occurred. The suspect initially refused to be transported by AMR ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center, so he was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangerment. Jail deputies later gave the man a medical release to go to the hospital for treatment, but not before he was cited to appear in court. The crash resulted in well over $2,500 in damage.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for bad behavior after she generated multiple complaints in a southwest neighborhood last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving a 43-year-old female subject at a home on SW Otis Lane on Sunday at 3:26 p.m.. Police said a caller reported there was a "crazy woman" in front of their house. The neighbor said the woman was screaming about her husband being murdered at her house that day. They offered her some water before calling 9-1-1 and locking their doors. The woman continued onto Schutzwohl Lane and Allen Creek Road where she was yelling at other residents and acting in an aggressive manner. Responding officers located the woman in the Albertson's parking lot a short time later and placed her into custody. She reportedly exposed herself to passing drivers before heading into the residential area. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. She was being held without bail.

 

First responders worked together to get a woman out of a tree in downtown Cave Junction last weekend. The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, Oregon State Police and Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident in the 100-block of South Redwood Highway on Sunday shortly after 1 a.m.. Arriving units were dispatched by law enforcement to assist getting a 28-year-old woman down from a tree at that location. Command requested Grants Pass Fire & Rescue respond with their ladder truck to assist with the rescue. After several hours, the woman was removed from the tree unharmed. During the incident, she assaulted multiple officers, was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for crimes including Felony Attempt to Assault a Police Officer, Physical Harassment, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct.

 

Those who want one last turn of summer cooling at Grants Pass city parks have just one more opportunity. The Grants Pass Parks Department has announced that today will be the final day the spray parks will operate at Riverside and Morrison Centennial parks. The forecast for today is 86 degrees, with temperatures dropping to the 80s and 70s the rest of the week and beyond. Parks workers will start the process of winterizing the spray parks on Wednesday.

 

SafeOregon and the Oregon State Police are reminding students, parents, staff and community members that everyone plays a role in school safety. SafeOregon is a school safety tip line to report potential threats against students and schools confidentially or anonymously. SafeOregon receives tips focused on safety threats; violence or threats of violence; fights; drugs, alcohol or weapons on campus; bullying, harassment or intimidation; cyberbullying; and friends or peers discussing self-harm or suicide. SafeOregon asks that if you see or hear something concerning to let someone know. Tips may be submitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call or text 1-(844)-472-3367, email "tip@safeoregon.com," visit "safeoregon.com" or download the mobile app. All tips are immediately received by a tip line technician and they are forwarded to designated school personnel or law enforcement to respond to reported incidents. Always call 9-1-1 for situations requiring an immediate emergency response. It is a violation of Oregon law to make false reports to SafeOregon. For more information, visit "safeoregon.com."

 

The Oregon Department of Human Services has announced that the application deadline for the new Summer EBT program has been extended to midnight on September 30th. The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access. Eligible families should act now. Thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify for this essential benefit. Oregon DHS and the Oregon Department of Education urge families to check their eligibility and apply before the extended deadline. Once Summer EBT benefits are received, they must be used within 122 days. Most eligible children received their benefits automatically on June 28th. Children in foster care also automatically received Summer EBT. However, families who did not receive benefits automatically -- particularly those with children who were eligible for the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs -- should still apply to determine their eligibility. Families are encouraged to visit "sebt.oregon.gov" or contact the Summer EBT Call Center to verify their eligibility and apply.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department has announced the schedule for tomorrow's 9/11 Patriot Day Memorial Walk in Grants Pass. The annual memorial walk will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday at Reinhart Volunteer Park. The one-hour event will be around the track located near the parking lot adjacent to Lincoln Road. The walk is in honor of those who died on September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It's also for the 343 New York City firefighters and other first responders who died while trying to save others. Americans vowed to "never forget" and this is just one small gesture to uphold that promise. First responders of any discipline are welcome to join the memorial walk including fire, law, emergency medical services, hospital personnel, emergency managers, dispatchers, search and rescue, active military and veterans. The public is also welcome to join in the walk. Uniforms are encouraged, but not required.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman over the weekend on a local felony warrant alleging felony-level domestic violence. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 29-year-old female subject they identified as "Kayla Marie Sandgren" in the 500-block of SE 10th Street at 4:46 p.m. Saturday. Police said they were looking for Sandgren because she was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant containing a secret indictment for felony charges of Criminal Mistreatment, Aggravated 4th-Degree Assault and Strangulation plus a less charge of Attempted 3rd-Degree Assault. She was placed into custody without incident. Information that led to the criminal allegations was not disclosed by GPPD. Sandgren was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and she was being held in lieu of posting $50,000 bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for several crimes -- past and present -- after he was caught selling marijuana near the Growers Market this past weekend. According to the Police Department, officers contacted a 59-year-old male subject near the Grasshopper Parking Lot on Saturday shortly after noon. Police said a man they identified as "Gary Todd Barker" was trying to sell low-quality marijuana for $10 an ounce while sitting near the railroad tracks just off 4th Street. They said he provided a false name and stuck with it until he was detained and found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Further investigation revealed that Barker was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. He was also found to be wanted by the Sheriff's Office for a domestic violence case. Barker was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation, Meth Possession and Furnishing False Information to Police. The marijuana he was selling was seized for destruction.