Local News

The Grants Pass City Council will tackle a variety of important issues during its bi-weekly workshop session today. The City Council will open the workshop with a Budget Policy Update followed by a Lands and Buildings discussion. Next up are staff presentations on the Humanitarian Services Permitting Process and City Urban Campground Sites. The session will conclude with a presentation on a Building/Planning Task Force and a review of the agenda for Wednesday night's regular meeting. Today's workshop starts at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

Heavy rainfall and rising water levels caused widespread flooding in Josephine, Jackson and Douglas counties on Sunday. In the Grants Pass area, Rural Metro crews were initially dispatched to Upper River Road at Hunt Lane for a disabled vehicle stranded in high water. While crews escorted the occupants to dry ground, the adjacent levy failed on the swollen irrigation ditch next to Fort Vannoy Elementary School. As water levels quickly rose and entered the unoccupied school, firefighters scrambled to place sandbags at entry points of the buildings. Additional 9-1-1 calls started coming in reporting people stranded in vehicles and homes in the Merlin area. Welfare checks were conducted on Abegg Road, Ward Road and Barker Drive. Some occupants were escorted to safety while others sheltered in place. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reported weather-related closures in the 5200-block of Upper River Road, Ward Road and Pleasant Valley Road. There were landslides and washouts on Galice Road in the Rand Recreation Area and near Chair Riffle, Winona Road, Lower Grave Creek Road and Livingston Road. There were culvert problems on Hoffman Way, Sunny Valley Loop, Placer Road, Lower Grave Creek Road and Hamilton Lane. High water reports were widespread including Williams Highway at New Hope Road. Due to concerns about unsafe road conditions this morning, all Grants Pass District 7 and Three Rivers District schools are operating on a two-hour delayed schedule.

 

The state's 2024-2025 influenza season is the worst since the Oregon Health Authority began tracking the virus nearly 15 years ago. OHA officials report people are continuing to be hospitalized at a time of year when statewide influenza activity traditionally begins winding down. That means it's still not too late for people to get the influenza vaccine, particularly as Oregon could see a late-season uptick in flu incidence of the virus as it has in recent years. Influenza is a contagious, respiratory tract infection cause by influenza viruses. Symptoms of influenza may include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy and runny nose, muscle aches, headaches and fatigue. Influenza can cause mild to severe illness including hospitalization and even death. OHA data shows that fewer people are getting flu shots. Vaccinations are down 4% from last year and they have been steadily dropping since 2022. Certain groups -- including older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions -- are at higher risk for serious complications from influenza. The hospitalization rate is highest for people 65 and older.

 

Britt Music & Arts Festival has announced the second slate of 10 shows for the 2025 summer season. While there are still more announcements to come, this batch of diverse artists are an exciting addition to Britt's existing lineup of entertainers. Britt is honored to host legendary country artist Wynonna Judd, pop sensation Natasha Bedingfield, world-renowned blues and rock duo Taj Mahal & Steve Earle, and other notable Britt first-timers like Dirtwire with special guests Free Creatures and a much anticipated performance from Tash Sultana. Other artists included in the second Britt announcement include Watchhouse, Gin Blossoms with special guests Spin Doctors, and Michael Franti & Spearhead. With this announcement, there will be a member pre-sale before tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 28th. Tickets for Britt shows from the first announcement are already on sale. All tickets are available at "brittfest.org."

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is investigating an assault that led to a stabbing in rural Eagle Point early yesterday. It was an apparent case of self-defense. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies, Jackson County Fire District #3 and Mercy Flights were dispatched to a reported stabbing in the 2100-block of Rogue River Drive on Thursday at 8:31 a.m.. Deputies secured the scene and an ambulance transported the wounded suspect to a local hospital. During the investigation, detectives learned a commercial electrician was in the area working when a man approached and assaulted him. The electrician used his pocket knife to stop the unprovoked attack, wounding the suspect in the process. The suspect underwent surgery for superficial wounds and was in stable condition. Charges for the suspect are pending review by the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. The suspect's name will be released pending charges. Detectives are continuing their investigation.

 

A Josephine County Community Corrections client was jailed yesterday after a search of his residence uncovered three firearms, body armor and narcotics. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 30-year-old Killian Reese Mavity at a home in the 1100-block of NW D Street on Thursday around 12:40 p.m.. Police said Mavity's corrections officer contacted them after the officer found parts of a firearm in plain view. They said a subsequent search of the house uncovered three firearms, body armor, methamphetamine and cocaine. Mavity is a convicted felon and prohibited from having any firearms or drugs. Mavity was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for three counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Felon in Possession of Body Armor, Methamphetamine Possession and Cocaine Possession plus the resulting Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a local felon for violating his post-prison supervision following a welfare check in the northwest part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 40-year-old Michael Cecil Mokres in the 500-block of NW Savage Street at 12:20 p.m. Thursday. Police said they received a call about a male subject who was slumped over in the passenger seat of a vehicle and hadn't moved for approximately four hours. The caller said they believed the man might be in need of medical attention. Officers arrived on scene, contacted Mokres and subjected him to a search at the request of his corrections officer. He was found to be in possession of a pouch containing drug paraphernalia that was seized for destruction. Mokres was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Methamphetamine Possession and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for his violent and destructive behavior in the south part of the city late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to an incident involving 26-year-old Nick Dustin Farmer in the 1400-block of Williams Highway on Thursday at about 5:30 p.m.. Police said they received multiple reports of a male subject stopping traffic and walking between cars on the highway while flipping off the drivers. They said the man was also reported to be carrying a box cutter which he used to slash the tire of a vehicle parked in the Williams Highway Plaza. Responding officers located Farmer in front of the south Safeway supermarket. He had entered the store from which had been previously trespassed. He was placed into custody without further incident and the box cutter was seized as evidence. Farmer was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two men for theft and drug violations during a patrol check in the downtown area yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 38-year-old Kelcey Edwin Cummings and 20-year-old Justis Ivan Cory at the corner of SW 5th and L streets on Thursday at 2:40 p.m.. Police said Cummings and Cory had drug paraphernalia near them, and Cummings was the primary suspect in a recent theft investigation. Both men were detained and then placed into custody. Cummings was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of 2nd-Degree Theft and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was being held without bail. Cory was cited to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession and released.