Local News

Senator Wyden Joins Colleagues on New Law to Protect Sensitive Places from ICE Raids
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US Senator Ron Wyden said he is joining Senate colleagues in introducing legislation that would prevent Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from making arrests at sensitive locations such as hospitals, schools, churches and courthouses in Oregon and nationwide. The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act would codify the Department of Homeland Security's established policies to stop ICE from making arrests at essential service locations. In addition, the legislation would ensure immigrants can have access to education, criminal justice and social services without fear of deportation. The list of "sensitive locations" protected under this legislation includes -- but are not limited to -- medical treatment facilities and health care facilities of all types; public and private schools, early childhood learning centers, preschools, school activities and field trips: places of worship; federal and local courthouses; DMVs and Social Security offices; polling places; labor union halls; and several locations that provide essential or emergency services to immigrant communities such as rape crisis centers and homeless shelters. Wyden said "the Trump administration's efforts to upend these policies not only goes against long-standing precedent, but also threatens public safety."
Posted on 2/14/25 6:16AM by Sam Marsh
 

Health Officials Say People with Flu Symptoms Should Talk to Doctor before Visiting the ER
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Jackson and Josephine counties continue to see high influenza rates this year. Influenza -- also known as the flu -- is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Influenza A(H1N1) and Influenza A(H3N2) are the predominant virus strains circulating in Southern Oregon. These two strains are not the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPA1), also known as "bird flu" A(H5N1). There have been no confirmed local bird flu cases. If you have flu symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches or fatigue, talk to your doctor before visiting the hospital emergency room. Emergency departments are busy, and people with mild symptoms who want to be seen can protect others and avoid long waits in the ER by calling their primary care provider before heading to the hospital. People at higher risk of severe illness from influenza include those 65 years and older, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic medical conditions or weak immune systems. The flu vaccine is available from health care providers, Jackson and Josephine County Public Health departments, and many pharmacies.
Posted on 2/14/25 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
 

Boys & Girls Clubs of RV Announces 4 New Board Members and National Award
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Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley is excited to announce the appointment of four distinguished community leaders to its Board of Directors. The new members are set to play a key role in advancing the Club's mission of providing safe environments and impactful programs and services to young people in the Rogue Valley. Just recently, the Board of Directors was honored with the Silver Award in Boys & Girls Clubs of America's League of Eagles Organizational Recognition Program. This award recognizes local Boys & Girls Club affiliate organizations whose boards of directors demonstrated strong engagement and superior commitment to their clubs. Joining this distinguished group are Noah Horstman, owner of Golf Garage and West Coast Academy of Golf in Phoenix; Clayton Martin, regional manager of Dutch Bros Josephine County; Mason Smith, social media content creator and entrepreneur; and Dave Thomason, owner of Thomason Hospitality Group. The new positions fill recent vacancies following the retirement of multiple long-standing Board members.
Posted on 2/14/25 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Jailed Man for Assaulting Estranged Wife & Returning to Her Home
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for beating up his estranged wife when he returned to her residence early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 49-year-old John Scott Jessen for the incident at a residence on SW Laurel Street on Wednesday at about 10:25 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that Jessen had assaulted her Tuesday night, returned the next morning and was yelling at her through the door. She told dispatchers they were still legally married -- but separated -- and she had locked the door to keep him outside. She said he broke her phone when she tried to call for help the night before. Jessen left the scene, but the alleged victim said she believed he went to apartments on SW Bridge Street where his children live. That's where officers located him and placed him into custody. Jessen was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for probable cause of Strangulation, Menacing and Harassment -- all constituting Domestic Violence -- plus Interfering with Making a Police Report. He was being held without bail pending arraignment in Circuit Court this afternoon.
Posted on 2/13/25 11:27AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Jailed Corrections Client for Escaping from Work Crew at GP Airport
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Community Corrections client yesterday after he tried to escape from a work crew at the Grants Pass Airport. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 46-year-old Jacob Girtman at or near the Josephine County Animal Shelter on Brookside Boulevard on Wednesday at 12:12 p.m.. Deputies said an airport maintenance worker caught Girtman loitering around the hangars and he fled when contacted. The male subject reportedly jumped the fence and ran toward the Animal Shelter. When deputies arrived, Girtman continued eastbound through the dog kennels and jumped over a barbed wire fence before he was detained at Taser point. He tried to run again and kept fighting with deputies after being placed in handcuffs. It was believed he may have been under the influence of a narcotic stimulant. Once Girtman was put into a patrol vehicle, he tried to kick out a window and had to be restrained with leg wraps. During transport, he was somehow able to slip out of the wraps, so deputies were forced to pull over and contact the Oregon State Police to help restrain him again. Girtman eventually arrived at the Josephine County Jail where he was booked on charges of Escape, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Mischief and Furnishing False Information to Police plus the resulting Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 2/13/25 11:26AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Arrested Pair for Warrant & Weapon Crimes after Williams Area Spat
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two people for warrant and weapon violations following a disturbance in the Williams area early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident at a home in the 1400-block of Rock Creek Road on Wednesday around 6:30 a.m.. Deputies said the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call from that address, but the call taker only heard shuffling on the line followed by the voice of a young woman asking someone to leave her alone. Dispatchers eventually learned that a verbal confrontation was taking place and they alerted deputies before it escalated. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that the two parties were arguing about the man allowing smoke into the home. The woman stated that she was helping clean up the property for the owner and denied that she was in a relationship with the man, who was identified as 37-year-old Bobby Gillette. Gillette was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant containing a secret indictment for three counts of 1st-Degree Forgery. He was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The young woman -- who was not identified -- was arrested for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. She was cited to appear in court and then given a courtesy ride into Grants Pass. The firearm was seized.
Posted on 2/13/25 11:24AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Man on Local Warrant after Citizen Complaint near South Y
Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant last night following a citizen complaint near the South Y interchange. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident involving 31-year-old Kale Phillip Luke at the corner of Redwood Highway and the Grants Pass Parkway on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.. Police said Luke was contacted after he was observed walking in the middle of the roadway. They said he was discovered to be wanted on a local warrant for failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Felony Criminal Mischief. After the warrant was confirmed, Luke was placed into custody and lodged in jail on $40,000 bail. He was also warned for Disorderly Conduct.
Posted on 2/13/25 11:21AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Nabbed Man on Local Warrant - He was Throwing Rocks at Cars
Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender on a local warrant after he was caught throwing rocks at cars on Rogue River Highway early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the intersection of Highway 99 and Maple Lane on Wednesday around 8:15 a.m.. Police said 26-year-old Nick Dustin Farmer was called in for throwing rocks at vehicles and hitting at least two of them. He was detained near Playford Lane and found to be wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Larceny or Petty Theft. Farmer was placed into custody and lodged in jail on the warrant. He was also warned for Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Mischief.
Posted on 2/13/25 11:19AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Cited Motorist for Multiple Violations & Impounded Modified Car
Grants Pass Police cited a motorist for multiple violations and impounded his modified vehicle late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a Nissan 350Z driven by a man they identified as "Ashton Ring" on NE 7th Street near Mead Street at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday. Police said they observed Ring driving lowered black sedan with an aftermarket exhaust northbound on 7th Street, which precipitated the traffic stop. They said the exhaust caused greater noise than is reasonably necessary for the proper operation of a vehicle. They added that the exhaust pipe modification mimicked gunshots. Ring was cited for Unreasonable Noise and No Insurance. He was also warned about being in violation of minimum vehicle clearance and his car was impounded.
Posted on 2/13/25 11:18AM by Sam Marsh
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One Person Hospitalized with Serious Burns after Merlin Area Shed Explosion
An explosion and fire in a small Merlin-area garden shed sent one person to the hospital with serious burn injuries early yesterday. On Wednesday at 10:03 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 3,000-block of Camp Joy Road. Rural Metro officials said arriving units found the shed already mostly consumed by flames. The private company consulted with the Oregon State Fire Marshal in the investigation and it was determined that propane was being utilized inside the shed, which was being used as a sleeping area. One unidentified person was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with serious burn injuries. As fire crews were responding, another occupant tried to suppress the fire with a garden hose, but found it inoperable due to being frozen. Officials urge residents to keep garden hoses thawed indoors with nozzles attached and to protect the exterior water spigots from freezing.
Posted on 2/13/25 6:55AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Incarcerated Man for Attacking Girlfriend at Northeast City Residence
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for attacking his girlfriend at a northeast city home. The Police Department reports officers arrested 57-year-old Richard Allen Wood for the incident at a NE Baker Drive residence on Tuesday night. Police said a taxi cab driver called 9-1-1 to report a male subject shoving a female subject outside the home. They said an investigation determined that Wood subjected his girlfriend to unwanted physical contact during an argument when he pushed the woman with the muzzle of his firearm. According to the report, Wood's conduct placed the victim in fear of imminent physical injury or death. She sustained red marks on her face and body from the incident, but she declined medical treatment. The gun was seized as evidence. Officers placed Wood into custody and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Harassment.
Posted on 2/13/25 6:53AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Jailed Man for Violating Court Order by Contacting Protected Woman
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for violating a court order by contacting his estranged girlfriend at U-Turn for Christ. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a disturbance at the organization in the 300-block of Lind Road on Tuesday evening. Deputies said they were alerted to the incident involving 34-year-old Jake Cameron Callin by a U-Turn for Christ staff member who reported a belligerent male subject yelling at a female subject in a verbal argument about a vehicle. The caller advised the man may have been intoxicated and the woman took his keys. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed all parties before discovering that the woman had a no-contact order in place to protect her from Callin. They said he displayed manic and aggressive behaviors while being placed into custody. He was loaded into a patrol vehicle with some difficulty. Callin was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Violating a No Contact Order. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 2/13/25 6:47AM by Sam Marsh
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