Local News

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist on an outstanding warrant during an Interstate 5 contact in the North Valley area last night. OSP reports state troopers stopped for a disabled Chevrolet C-250 pickup driven by 46-year-old Amber Denise Tacia in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 64 shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday. Troopers said they contacted Tacia and discovered that she was wanted on a local bench warrant for failing to appear in court. She was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The pickup was left on the side of freeway at Tacia's request as it was not a hazard and an acquaintance of hers was on the way to retrieve it.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and drug possession after a traffic stop in southeast Grants Pass late last night. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Blazer driven by 38-year-old Lionell Augustus Lims of Grants Pass near the intersection of Fruitdale Drive and Poplar Drive on Wednesday around 11:20 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Lims for traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. They said he then performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was positive for alcohol but below the legal limit. A drug recognition specialist responded to assist with the investigation which revealed the use of narcotics. Lionell Lims was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Controlled Substances as well as Possession of Cocaine. He was also cited for Failure to Drive Within Lane, Unsignaled Turn and Expired Registration. After being cited to appear in court, Lims was released and given a courtesy ride home. His vehicle was parked and secured at the scene of the traffic stop.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for using a weapon to threaten another person while committing a robbery this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 41-year-old Travis Llammar Rough on Tuesday morning and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail. No details about the incident were disclosed, but Rough was charged with Felony 3rd-Degree Robbery, Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and 3rd-Degree Theft. He was still in custody without any scheduled bail on Wednesday. The charges indicate Rough used a weapon to threaten the victim during a heist that involved an item of under $100 in value. No other details were available.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant this week after he stole a beer from a local supermarket. The Police Department reports officers arrested 40-year-old Philip Raymond Nerpel for the incident at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Tuesday. Police said Nerpel was detained by loss prevention for stealing a beer. They said he provided a fictitious name to officers, but he was properly identified and then found to be wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. Philip Nerpel was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the statewide warrant plus charges of 3rd-Degree Theft and Furnishing False Information to Police. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Nerpel was also arrested for Parole Violation on January 8th of this year and June 20th of last year.

 

A Josephine County Sheriff's Office investigation has led to an arrest in a recent fraud case perpetrated on a popular local home improvement store. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 43-year-old Alexander Neuman in connection with an incident at Fields Home Improvement Center at the Grants Pass Walmart on Wednesday at 3:09 p.m.. No details about the investigation were disclosed, but Neuman was charged with 1st-Degree Forgery and 1st-Degree Theft. He was cited to appear in court and then released. Deputies said they spotted Neuman in the Walmart parking lot, confirmed details of the case and swooped in to detain him.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing a leaf blower from a north-city motel this week. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the theft at La Quinta Inn & Suites on NE Morgan Lane around midday Tuesday. Police said a motel worker called them to report his backpack blower -- valued at $900 -- was stolen. The worker advised that the motel surveillance camera caught a male subject taking the blower and driving away in a gray Nissan Frontier. A short time later, another La Quinta employee reported a vehicle matching that description was parked at the downtown liquor store on SE 8th Street. Contact was made with 69-year-old James Cecil Black who matched the suspect description in the video footage. The leaf blower was located in the back seat of his vehicle. James Black was charged with 2nd-Degree Theft and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The stolen leaf blower was returned to the motel worker.

 

Applications are now being accepted for a position on the Grants Pass Urban Tree Advisory Committee. This term expires on February 1, 2025. The purpose of the Urban Tree Advisory Committee is to review, develop and implement programs and activities that promote, protect and enhance the urban forest as part of the Tree City USA program. The special qualification for this position is an interest in the enhancement and promotion of the urban forest in Grants Pass. 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 1st. Applications will be reviewed by the committee on Monday, March 11th. The Grants Pass City Council will make the appointment on Wednesday, April 3rd.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue (SAR) Team assisted with the SkiMo Summit Race last weekend at the Mount Ashland Ski Area. SAR was staged on the west side of Mount Ashland as well as the Grouse Gap area to assist with any injuries during the race. SAR volunteers took the opportunity to do side-training while on standby, which included skiing skills, winter fire building and avalanche safety. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is looking for Search & Rescue volunteers. If you are interested in joining the SAR Team, go to the Sheriff's Office website, search for SAR volunteer and fill out the form. Visit "jacksoncountyor.gov."

 

The Grants Pass City Council last night voted in favor of a 3% food and beverage tax combined with a $9 utility fee to fill the funding void for public safety. The non-binding vote was 5-3, with DJ Faszer, Dwayne Yunker and Valerie Lovelace casting the dissenting votes. City staff will now create ordinances to institute the proposed new revenue streams to maintain current funding levels and add three police officers, a crime analyst, three firemen and an administrator. Councilors are expected to cast a final vote on the ordinances at the February 21st regular meeting. Prior to Council's discussion and vote, they heard over an hour of public testimony related to the public safety funding discussion. Citizens voiced different opinions both for and against a sales tax, for and against a utility fee, and against the food and beverage tax. The City Council started the meeting by unanimously approving an ordinance that amends the Development Code to relax some residential development standards. The amendments reduce the requirement of 30% open space for multi-family housing developments, streamlining requirements while maintaining high-value recreation areas. The setback standards for multi-family developments next to single-family residences were retained.