Local News

Grants Pass Police evicted a total of 16 people from city parks on Presidents Day. At Westholm Park, Brian Stack and Alic Hendrickson were cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Misuse of Park Open Space while Treveillian Heartfelt was cited for Illegal Camping and Buffer Zone Violation. At Gilbert Creek Park, Steven Juergensen and Brittney Adams were found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia with fentanyl residue. Juergensen was arrested on a warrant for 3rd-Degree Theft. At Fruitdale Park, Janique Kocst was cited for Nuisance Dog and Unnecessary Noise. At Morrison Centennial Park, Marylynn Humphrey and John Francis were cited for Illegal Camping while Danyelle Pittman was cited for Scattering Rubbish. At Tussing Park, Tammy Whetzel was cited for Buffer Zone Violation, Michael Cowan was cited for Misuse of Park Open Space, and Aliczandr McClymonds and Caitlin Fossen were cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Misuse of Park Open Space. At Baker Park, Tyson Hutchinson, William Stroh and Travis Blake were cited for Illegal Camping. Blake was also cited for Misuse of Park Open Space.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman wanted on a statewide felony warrant following a weekend incident at a local fitness center. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a medical call at Planet Fitness on Williams Highway on Saturday night. Police said 48-year-old Terri Lee Brown was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center due to an unspecified injury. Officers said there was a male subject with two large swastika tattoos on his chest becoming violent, so they moved to avoid a confrontation and then followed the ambulance to the hospital. Additional units responded for the hostile man who was identified as "McGhee." While at the hospital, it was determined that Brown was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for Felony Mail Theft. Terri Brown was cleared by hospital staff and then lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for felony indecent behavior at a local motel last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 45-year-old Steven Adam Hughes at the Grants Pass Travelodge on NW Vine Street around midday Saturday. Police said Hughes and the motel manager got into an argument over the price of a room. They said he exposed and briefly fondled himself in front of the woman, and he did so in clear view of the public -- including two witnesses who retreated to a nearby restaurant and called 9-1-1. After placing Hughes into custody at the motel, officers learned that he had a prior conviction for indecent behavior in 2019. Steven Hughes was lodged at the Josephine County for Felony Public Indecency. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for attempting to steal nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting call involving 42-year-old Carol Ann Shimer at the big box store on NE Terry Lane on Saturday afternoon. Police said Shimer went to Walmart and selected more than $939 worth of items after she had purchased her prescription medications. They said she passed all points of sale and failed to pay for the large shopping cart full of merchandise. Carol Shimer was initially uncooperative with loss prevention at the store. She was placed into custody and lodged at the nearby Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. A debit card in her possession was returned to a man staying at Motel 6.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a repeat trespasser for attempting to steal merchandise from Walmart last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting call involving 33-year-old Matthew Dylan Barnett at the store on NE Terry Lane on Sunday at about 4:10 p.m.. Police said Barnett stole more than $224 in items from Walmart by swapping out his old shoes for new shoes off the shelf and he loaded a new backpack full of items before passing all points of sale and exiting the business without paying. Barnett was detained by loss prevention, placed into custody by officers and the stolen property was returned to Walmart. A records check showed that he had been trespassed from the store on December 21st of last year. Matthew Barnett was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was once again trespassed from Walmart.

 

Applications are being accepted for two positions on the Grants Pass Urban Area Planning Commission (UAPC). These are four-year appointments. The purpose of the Urban Area Planning Commission is to review and render a decision on all Type 3 Land Use Applications including zone changes, planned unit developments, subdivisions and major variances. The commission reviews and recommends to the Grants Pass City Council action on all Type 4 Land Use Requests including comprehensive plan amendments and Development Code text amendments. In accordance with the growth management philosophies of the governing boards, it will investigate, review, analyze and recommend necessary changes in those policies or physical capacities to meet the needs of the lands within Urban Growth Boundary. All appointments to the UAPC are required to have their principal residence within the Grants Pass city limits or the Urban Growth Boundary. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 8th.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office promoted a corrections sergeant to lieutenant in a recent ceremony. Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler swore in Corrections Lieutenant Melissa Di Constanzo during the ceremony last week at the Sheriff's Office in Central Point. Lieutenant Di Constanzo has worked at the Sheriff's Office since 2006 and brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the new position. She is already considered a trusted leader on the team and essential member of the Sheriff's Office family. Di Constanzo's proud father pinned on her new Lieutenant's badge at the event. Sheriff Sickler said Di Constanzo has already done a lot for the law enforcement profession and Jackson County community, adding that she has a desire to make things better around her. Congratulations Lieutenant Di Constanzo!

 

A new federal indictment accuses a Klamath Falls man of an attempted escape from the Jackson County Jail and a second kidnapping in addition to the alleged abduction of a woman from Washington to Oregon last summer. The Oregonian reports a three-week trial is now set to start in federal court in Medford on October 7th. Prosecutors estimated at least 50 witnesses will be called at trial, with roughly half based in Klamath Falls or Medford. The superseding indictment now accuses 30-year-old Negasi Zuberi of also kidnapping a second woman in Klamath County on May 6th, of an attempted escape from his cell in the Jackson County Jail in August and of unlawfully possessing a handgun, a shotgun, two rifles and numerous rounds of ammunition as a convicted felon. He initially faced a two-count indictment charging him with kidnapping and transportation with Intent to engage in sexual activity. The new indictment doesn’t give any details on the second kidnapping charge. It picks up the alleged jail escape case that was initially filed against Zuberi in state court. According to court records, a Jackson County maintenance worker noticed an unusual noise coming from one of the cells while he was outside the county jail about 12:45 p.m. on August 22nd and alerted sheriff’s deputies. Deputies found Zuberi on his bunk bed, near a window that appeared to be chipped. He’s accused of using an improvised, screw-like device to strike and shatter glass in the cell. The device was found attached to his sandal.

 

A new funding opportunity from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) promotes safe and long-lasting homes by offering qualifying groups support toward repairs and rehabilitation of low-income housing. The first round of this funding opportunity from OHA's Healthy Homes Grant Program (HHGP) aims to improve health and safety, maximize energy efficiency and extend usable life of both rented and owned low-income residences. Possible repairs include, but are not limited to structural renovations for improving home access such as wheelchair ramps; upgrades to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; and mold and mildew abatement. OHA officials said renovations can help protect people from extreme heat and cold, and keep indoor air clean from wildfire smoke, asthma triggers and allergens. Older and very young people with pre-existing health conditions are all at higher risk of health impacts from these hazards. Details on eligibility requirements are available on OHHGP's Request for Grant Application webpage. Qualifying groups are asked to submit their "Intent to Apply" by Friday, February 23rd, at 3 p.m. before sending a complete application by April 9th at 3 p.m..