Local News

Douglas Narcotics Team Takes Pounds of Meth Off the Streets
On Monday, October 14th, detectives with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) were assisted by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in bringing to conclusion a month-long investigation into suspected drug trafficking. At approximately 8:30 PM, a Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle on I-5 at milepost 161 near Curtin, at the request of DINT detectives. Two persons were detained: 45-year-old Jeffrey Bell, and 45-year-old Annie Randles, both of Roseburg. During a search of the vehicle, detectives found approximately 2 pounds of suspected methamphetamine. Detectives followed up with a search of a residence in the 900 block of Shoestring Road in Riddle where they found more evidence of drug trafficking. Jeff Bell was lodged at the Douglas County Jail on charges of Possession, Manufacturing, and Delivery of Methamphetamine.
Posted on 10/15/24 1:39PM by Chuck Benson
 

Today is the Last Day to Register to Vote in November
Today is the deadline to register to vote to receive a ballot for the November General Election. County clerks will begin mailing ballots tomorrow, October 16, to all registered voters in Oregon. Voters can fill out their ballot and return it anytime through Election Day on November 5th. Ballots must be postmarked on or before that date, or dropped off by 8 p.m., to be counted. You can register to vote online at OregonVotes.gov/register — it takes less than three minutes.
Posted on 10/15/24 10:39AM by Chuck Benson
 

OSP Corrals Two DUII Drivers
Oregon State Police Troopers corralled two DUII drivers Monday and Tuesday so far. A Trooper responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 260 at milepost 22 Monday morning at 11:48 to find a silver Ford XPL had hit several mailboxes before stopping. The Trooper observed several indicators of impairment and transported the female driver to three Rivers Medical Center where a telephonic search warrant was granted for a blood draw. Based on the results the driver was issued two citations, one for reckless driving and one for driving under the influence. She was left in the custody of hospital staff. The Ford was towed from the crash scene. Early Tuesday morning a Trooper responded to a single vehicle non-injury crash on I-5 at milepost 59. This driver also showed indications of impairment but refused field sobriety tests. She was also arrested and transported to the sobering center where she submitted a breath sample showing a blood alcohol content of .31.
Posted on 10/15/24 9:19AM by Chuck Benson
 

Light Agenda Published for County Commissioner’s Business Session
A light agenda awaits the County Commissioners for their weekly Business Session Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.There are no action items on the agenda which begins with Requests and Comments from Citizens.The consent calendar contains minutes from three meetings to be approved and the reapproval in the matter of authorization of the sale of county real property by Sheriff’s sale.
Posted on 10/15/24 8:55AM by Chuck Benson
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GPPD Area Check Finds 2 with Drugs on a Dead-End Street
A Grants Pass Police officer on routine patrol early this morning conducting, and area check of the new Sylvan Subdivision located two vehicles at a dead end with a man and woman on the scene. The couple stated they were just talking, but, according to the police log, there were no houses in the subdivision so neither subject had a good reason for being there. The man, identified as Chance Richard Johnson, 35, was found to be on felony supervision and consented to a search of his vehicle. The officer located a plastic baggie with white residue in plain sight after opening the driver’s side door. The search also turned up a glass water pipe, with white residue and several syringes. The residue field tested positive for methamphetamine. Johnson was arrested and lodged in the county jail on a charge of possession of meth.
Posted on 10/15/24 8:23AM by Chuck Benson
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$87 Theft from Walmart Earns Jail Time
Grants Pass City Police responded to Walmart Monday morning just after 10 to investigate the report of a woman walking out of the retailer’s store with a large tote of merchandise. The reporting party provided a description of the suspect and followed her via camera images to a silver Jeep Cherokee with rear end damage parked close to the Parkway and the bushes next to Big 5. At that point officer made contact with the suspect, 44-year-old Amber Michelle Douglas and she admitted to walking past all points of sale with $86.92 worth of Walmart merchandise without paying. She retrieved the stolen items and they were returned to Walmart. Douglas was trespassed from Walmart at employee’s request and then lodged in jail on a charge of theft III.
Posted on 10/15/24 8:07AM by Chuck Benson
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Josephine Community Library Launched Its Annual Public Survey
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Josephine Community Library launched its annual public survey to gain insight to for future improvements to services. Those surveys are due by Monday, October 28 in order to be counted. The anonymous survey takes about 10 minutes and participants have a chance to enter a raffle to win one of three $100 gift cards to the business of their choice, sponsored by Josephine Community Library Foundation. You can participate in the online survey, or paper copies are available at library branches in Grants Pass, Williams, and Wolf C
Posted on 10/15/24 6:54AM by Chuck Benson
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Unlicensed Driver Jailed
Monday afternoon a Josephine County Deputy stopped a vehicle with no license plates and the driver ended up in the County Jail facing multiple charges. The Deputy made the stop in the 2400 block of Northwest Vine Street and found the driver, identified as Ryan Paul Thatcher, 21, to be driving while suspended with no emergent reason to be in control of a vehicle. Thatcher’s parole officer wanted him taken into custody, so he was transported the Josephine County Jail. He booking sheet shows he if facing three charges: criminal trespass II, theft I and criminal mischief I-crime damage.
Posted on 10/15/24 5:40AM by Chuck Benson
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Mainstreet Steering Committee Outlines Goals at City Council Workshop
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Monday the Grants Pass City Council workshop heard from the steering committee for the Main Street program, discussed dimensions and safety of private streets and explored deferring System Development Charges. The steering committee for the fledgling Main Street program that is forming made a presentation. The organization is designed to fill a gap since Visit Grants Pass ended in 2020.The organization hopes to revitalize community events. The Back to the 50’s was mentioned specifically.
Posted on 10/15/24 5:05AM by Chuck Benson
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Oregon Department of Forestry Controls Grass Fire Near Provolt
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The Oregon Department of Forestry engaged and controlled a grass fire in the 1400 block of Highway 238 near Provolt Monday afternoon. An aggressive initial attack was conducted in an effort to stop the spread of the fire. By 6:35 p.m. last night firefighters had stopped the forward progression of fire and were working to construct line around it. No other details were provided by ODF. The cause of this fire will be under investigation. The current fire danger level in Josephine and Jackson Counties remains high.
Posted on 10/15/24 5:03AM by Chuck Benson
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GPCC Workshop Hears from Mainstreet Steering Committee
The Grants Pass City Council workshop heard from the steering committee for the Main Street program, discussed dimensions and safety of private streets and explored deferring System Development Charges. The steering committee for the fledgling Main Street program that is forming made a presentation. The organization is designed to fill a gap since Visit Grants Pass ended in 2020. The organization hopes to revitalize community events. The Back to the 50’s was mentioned specifically. The Main Street program has access to $400,000 in available grants for the city, primarily for infrastructure improvements. Funding the program would likely fall to a combination of City funds along with local business memberships and grants. No specific requests were made of the Council. A discussion of private street dimensions included parking arrangements, public utilities in terms of fire hydrant availability plus access for fire fighting apparatus. Council asked for further information to include discussions between the fire chief and the planning department before making any further instructions to staff. Much the same occurred during a discussion of System Development Charge deferrals. Currently residential development may defer SDC’s until a letter of occupancy is issued whereas commercial development must pay SDC’s at the time the permit is issued. Council indicated a preference each type of development may defer System Development Charges.
Posted on 10/14/24 3:37PM by Chuck Benson
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Fentanyl User Walks Away from Police, Jailed on Warrant
Grants Police responded to the 6th and ‘G’ Street area Sunday night after a 911 call was received saying his friend had just been administered Narcan after he had smoked fentanyl. Arriving officers observed the suspect running along the railroad tracks toward the Grower’s Market lot and detained him, identifying him as 38-year-old Joshua Scott McFadden. Medics evaluated McFadden due to the fact that an unknown amount of Narcan had been administered by the reporting party. McFadden declined transport to the hospital. A serviceable warrant for McFadden returned for burglary related charges so, after confirming his identity he was lodged in jail on the warrant and remained in custody Monday morn
Posted on 10/14/24 10:57AM by Chuck Benson
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