Local News

The Redwood Foundation for Education is pleased to announce the establishment of a fund to support the Grants Pass School District Early Learning Program. The program offers free early learning opportunities to Grants Pass families with preschool-aged children. Unlike K-12 education, early learning programs do not receive state funding. Programs for preschool-aged children are typically funded through grants, donations or tuition. The earnings from this fund will support free parent-child interactive playgroups and connect families to community resources and support. In addition, donations to the Grants Pass Early Learning Fund will support preschool opportunities, transportation assistance, child care for families with multiple children so parents/caregivers can attend workshops and playgroups with the preschool-aged child, professional development for early learning providers, parent workshops, kindergarten readiness classes, on-site dental, vision and speech screenings, and a clothing closet. For more information on how to support the Grants Pass Early Learning Program, please visit "redwoodforeducation.org/grants/grants-pass-early-learning-fund."

 

For more than 40 years, the American Water Works Association and its members have used "Drinking Water Week" as a unique opportunity for both professionals and the communities they serve to recognize the vital role water plays in our lives. This year's Drinking Water Week" is May 5th-11th. The City of Grants Pass is calling on all kids grades K-12 to design a poster to demonstrate the theme "Reimagine Our Water Future." Three winners will be chosen from each category. Enter for a chance to win $75, $50 or $25. Entries will be judged based on creativity, originality and relevance to theme. In 2023, more than 20 local students submitted original artwork focused on the theme "Go with the Flow." Winners and their artwork will be featured on City of Grants Pass social media platforms and Josephine County Transit buses this summer. The deadline to enter is April 26th. For more information, call Grants Pass Public Works at (541)-450-6110 or e-mail Susan Morgan at "smorgan@grantspassoregon.gov."

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Selma woman for allegedly assaulting her brother during an argument over a vehicle late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 74-year-old woman for the incident that occurred in the 200-block of Borica Drive last Friday evening. Deputies said the victim's daughter called 9-1-1 on Wednesday to report that her father was in the hospital and not doing well. They said he texted his daughter on Saturday and said he was being treated for a fall. She visited him on Monday and he told her his sister had pushed him down during an argument over a vehicle. According to the report, the siblings live together on the Illinois Valley property and the sister forced her brother to tell people he was injured in a fall. When the daughter went to the home to collect some things for her father, her aunt was uncooperative and would not let her take the vehicle. Following an investigation, deputies placed the woman into custody and lodged her at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Assault. She was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a Roseburg man for illegally entering a Murphy area property, disturbing the residents and refusing to leave. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident in the 800-block of Hyde Park Drive on Wednesday around 10:15 p.m.. Deputies said the residents reported that a 50-year-old man broke into their backyard, got into an argument with them and refused to leave. They said one of the residents started throwing things at the man, but he screamed at her and would not allow her to shut the gate. The subject was believed to be heavily impaired. Upon arrival, deputies contacted the man and discovered that he was wanted on a Sweet Home municipal warrant for failing to appear in court for impaired driving. The Oregon State Police assisted deputies with a successful Taser deployment. The suspect was described as "uncooperative and under the influence of an unknown drug." He was placed into custody and during the ride to the Josephine County Jail, he started spitting all over the inside of the patrol vehicle so deputies stopped at Hidden Valley Market and placed a spit hood on him. The suspect then started kicking so deputies stopped on Williams Highway at Jaynes Drive and placed him in ankle restraints. He was eventually booked into jail without bail for Criminal Trespass, Harassment and the outstanding warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a local felon who fabricated a story about being shot in order to get out of the rain. The Police Department reports officers responding to the "shots-fired" incident at the 7-Eleven store on SW 6th Street on Wednesday at about 10:45 p.m.. Police said the 28-year-old man called 9-1-1 from the store to report that he had been shot in the hip with a .22-caliber firearm near the railroad tracks. The call resulted in an emergency response, prompting the dispatch of fire engines, an ambulance and three law enforcement units. Officers quickly determined that the man had not been shot or victimized in any way. He admitted that he wanted a room to get out of the rain for a few days and hoped to receive some opioids to alleviate withdrawals from a fentanyl addiction. The suspect was given a "room" at the Josephine County Jail for Initiating a False Police Report and Improper Use of 9-1-1 plus the resulting Parole Violation from previous arrests for Resisting Arrest, Escape and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on statewide felony warrant early yesterday while investigating a squatting complaint at a property in Selma. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the complaint in the 200-block of Illinois River Road on Wednesday around 10:30 a.m.. Deputies said the elderly property owner is now living with family in Utah and a neighbor in Selma called them to report people squatting on the land. The house had burned down several years ago. The owner recently received a letter from Josephine County about a large amount of trash on the property. Responding deputies contacted three people on the property including a 56-year-old man who was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a prior conviction for unspecified traffic offenses. He was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. A female subject told deputies she had permission to be living there, but that was proven to be a lie. She and another man were given 72 hours to vacate the land.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for trying to steal rent money from a Ready Ride driver yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the theft by the local company on Wednesday during the noon hour. Police said an investigation determined a Ready Ride driver picked up a 44-year-old man in the 100-block of Penwheel Drive to transport him to Medford. They said $750 fell out of the driver's pocket and was picked up by the suspect. When confronted about the money, the suspect denied taking it and refused to advise where it was, even when confronted with video evidence of the crime. Only $50 of the money was recovered as the suspect refused to tell officers where the rest of it was. The man was searched and the rest of the money was recovered. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of 2nd-Degree Theft and Tampering with Evidence. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist on an outstanding warrant yesterday following a traffic stop in downtown Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Toyota Corolla driven by a 35-year-old man near the corner of NE 6th and E streets on Wednesday at 3:44 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the driver because he was not wearing a seatbelt. They quickly learned that the man had a warrant for his arrest out of Jackson County. The suspect was lodged in jail, but he was conditionally released a short time later. His vehicle had been left secured in a parking spot at his request.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night during a traffic stop in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a Cadillac sedan driven by a 54-year-old man near the corner of NE 6th and A streets at 10:17 p.m. Wednesday. Police said they stopped the man for a traffic violation and he displayed obvious signs of impairment. After performing poorly in field sobriety tests, the man was placed into custody for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. The suspect was cited to appear in court and released, but his car was impounded. Officers gave a passenger a courtesy ride to a location on Rogue River Highway.