Local News

The proposed sale of the Pipe Fork timber property near Williams has been five years in the making -- and it will take more time to finish after two of the three members of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted against it on Tuesday. Commissioners John West and Herman Baertschiger voted against the $2.32 million purchase and sale agreement from The Conservation Fund and Williams Community Forest Project for the property on the Pipe Fork Creek drainage. The money is earmarked for the Josephine County Forestry Department. While Commissioner Dan DeYoung supported the sale and made a motion to approve it, the two other Board members would not second his motion because they had concerns on whether the Bureau of Land Management would guarantee public use of the parcel. Both expressed a desire to speak to a BLM representative before signing off on the Pipe Fork sale. In other business, the Board unanimously approved the Supplemental Budget for the current fiscal year. Finance Director Sandy Novak testified that adjustments to the spending plan that ends June 30th represent unexpected needs since adoption of the last supplemental budget. It was the third supplemental budget of the year.

 

Hidden Valley High School is excited to announce that its Life Skills Food Pantry has been awarded two significant grants. The grants include $10,000 from AllCare Health's Josephine County Community Advisory Council, and $4,000 from Safeway-Albertsons Foundation's Nourishing Neighbors Program and O Organics. The funds will be utilized to purchase food, insulated bags, coolers to keep frozen and refrigerated items fresh during deliveries and additional supplies to expand their summer food box program. Life Skills Pantry Manager Dennis DeCasas and his dedicated team are committed to providing weekly food boxes filled with healthy, well-rounded items to support local families in need. DeCasas said these generous grants will support the purchase of essential supplies for the program, which serves students and families through the Three Rivers School District who face food insecurity. To learn more about the program and/or contribute, please contact DeCasas at (541)-660-0498.

 

The proposed sale of the Pipe Fork timber property near Williams has been five years in the making -- and it will take more time to finish after two of the three members of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted against it this morning. Commissioners John West and Herman Baertschiger voted against the $2.32 million purchase and sale agreement from The Conservation Fund and Williams Community Forest Project for the property on the Pipe Fork Creek drainage. While Commissioner Dan DeYoung supported the sale and made a motion to approve it, the two other Board members would not second his motion because they had concerns on whether the Bureau of Land Management would guarantee public use of the parcel. Both expressed a desire to speak to a BLM representative before signing off on the Pipe Fork sale. In other business, the Board unanimously approved the Supplemental Budget for the current fiscal year. Finance Director Sandy Novak testified that adjustments to the spending plan that ends June 30th represent unexpected needs since adoption of the last supplemental budget. It was the third supplemental budget of the year. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Commissioners appointed Brett Hopper to a four-year term on the Grants Pass Airport Advisory Board.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Grants Pass woman yesterday for allegedly hitting her mother and leaving her young child unattended in a bath tub. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 27-year-old woman for the incident in the 3100-block of Cloverlawn Drive on Monday at 2:45 p.m.. Deputies said they received a call from the woman's aunt who reported that her niece hit her mother, leaving the mother with a black eye, cuts and bruises. The caller also advised her niece left a one-year-old baby unattended in a bath tub of water while she took a shower. The female subject locked the bathroom door. Upon arrival, deputies found the 77-year-old mother had locked herself inside a Toyota Tacoma pickup while the female subject was inside her trailer on the rural property. Evidence showed the mother may have been hit, but she refused medical attention. All involved parties were interviewed and the suspect was arrested. According to the report, the small child was temporarily left alone in about four inches of water. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted 4th-Degree Assault and 2nd-Degree Child Neglect. She was being held without bail. The Oregon Department of Human Services was notified about the incident.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for getting physical with her boyfriend last night at a residence located in the southeast part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 38-year-old female subject at a home on Cloverlawn Drive on Monday at 8:48 p.m.. Officers said both the suspect and male victim called 9-1-1 simultaneously, with the woman screaming that she was hit by the man and the man advising that he was in need of medical attention. They said an investigation determined that the man had received minor injuries in the altercation. He refused medical treatment. According to the report, the victim told police he was working to get a restraining order against the suspect. After the woman was determined to be the primary aggressor, she was placed into custody. She was transported to the Josephine County Jail where she suffered a medical incident which required her to be taken to Three Rivers Medical Center. The female suspect was evaluated at the hospital and then cleared for incarceration on a charge of Attempted 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. She was held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on three outstanding warrants during a Monday patrol check at a city park. According to the Police Department, officers contacted the 64-year-old male subject at Morrison Centennial Park at 3:30 p.m. yesterday. Police said they placed the man into custody on three Grants Pass warrants for four counts of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. While taking inventory of the arrestee's personal property, officers located a pipe with methamphetamine residue. It was seized for destruction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants plus related probation violations. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. The man's two tents, bicycle and personal items were logged into evidence for safekeeping. His camp chair was thrown away and a shopping cart at the campsite was taken back to the downtown Safeway.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a young man for not leaving a city park after he had been trespassed earlier in the day. The Police Department reports officers contacted the 19-year-old man at Tussing Park on Monday around 1:15 p.m. and placed him into custody a short time later. Police said the man had been issued a 30-day exclusion at about 8:30 that morning, but he was located sleeping in a tent and making no effort to leave the park when they returned in the afternoon. He was lodged in jail for Criminal Trespass. The man's backpack and mountain bike were placed into safekeeping, but his tent was removed and disposed of because it was filled with drug paraphernalia items. A gray pit bull dog running loose at the park was caught and transported to the Josephine County Animal Shelter. The animal's owner was notified.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night following a complaint at a southeast city convenience store. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the Li'l Pantry Market & Deli on Rogue River Highway on Monday at about 9:40 p.m.. Police said a store employee called 9-1-1 to report that a woman was extremely impaired after driving to the business. The worker advised the woman was slurring her words, stumbling around and they could smell alcohol on her. A customer was able to get her keys and convince her to stay at the store. Upon arrival, officers contacted the 57-year-old woman who showed obvious signs of impairment. She proceeded to perform poorly in field sobriety tests and was placed into custody. The suspect was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving before being released to a friend, who also picked up her vehicle and dog.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed an impaired man for multiple crimes last weekend after he crashed a vehicle into a traffic signal pole while fleeing from law enforcement. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 55-year-old male subject at Three Rivers Medical Center early Sunday morning. That's where he was taken following the wreck at the intersection of Rogue River Highway and the Grants Pass Parkway. The Oregon State Police assisted with the arrest. Police said they observed the motorist speeding, failing to maintain a travel lane and nearly crashing while outbound on Highway 99 near Fruitdale Drive. They said he turned around and accelerated to a high rate of speed before a traffic stop was attempted. The man refused to yield while striking curbs, swerving all over the highway and nearly crashing several more times. The pursuit ended when the man lost control of the Mini Cooper he was driving and struck the traffic signal pole, totaling his car. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to the hospital for evaluation. After he showed indicators of impairment, a search warrant was obtained for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of inebriation by alcohol. The suspect was medically cleared and then lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was being held without bail and his totaled car was impounded.