Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested two men on local warrants in the downtown area early yesterday. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred at 12:31 a.m. Thursday when officers arrested 38-year-old Steven Carsten Juergensen in the 100-block of NE E Street near Oregon Books. Police said they contacted Juergensen and learned that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The second incident happened on Thursday at 4:26 a.m. when officers arrested 33-year-old Cody Wayne Luttrell near the corner of SW 6th and G streets, not far from the Downtown Welcome Center.

 

Is it time to prune your trees and shrubbery? Now that we're seeing trees and shrubs leafing out, please remember to inspect them and trim branches that obstruct street signs. Grants Pass City Code requires property owners to maintain vegetation in the public right-of-way along their property. The right-of-way includes sidewalks, planting strips, curbs and gutters adjacent to city streets.The right-of-way along your property has maintenance needs. Trees and shrubs alongside streets must allow the safe passage of motor vehicles and may not limit the visibility of drivers. Low-hanging tree branches must be trimmed to a minimum of 15 feet above roadway surfaces. At corners, shrubbery must be trimmed to a maximum height of 30 inches for a distance of 20 feet from an intersection. Weeds growing in cracks or seams of sidewalks are trip hazards and must be removed. Low-hanging tree branches must be trimmed to a minimum of 8 feet above the sidewalk. Shrubs and trees must be trimmed back so they do not encroach on sidewalks. Vegetation hanging over the curb or growing in the gutter interferes with drainage and street sweeping and it must be removed. Shrubs should be trimmed back at least 6 inches from the curb

 

In honor of more than 127 years of local service, both Jackson County and the State of Oregon have officially proclaimed this week as "National Salvation Army Week" -- celebrating the enduring impact of The Salvation Army in Southern Oregon and across the nation.Established in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, National Salvation Army Week is a time to recognize the unwavering work of The Salvation Army to meet human needs without discrimination. For over a century, The Salvation Army Medford Corps has stood as a trusted place of refuge, compassion and practical support for families and individuals facing hardship.In a recent Point-in-Time Community Needs Survey conducted by The Salvation Army, local data revealed the most pressing needs of those served include food insecurity, housing and utility assistance, clothing and transportation access.The demand for services is increasing at an unprecedented rate. More than 2,500 individuals sought help for the first time this past year alone, many of whom had never previously needed assistance. Lines form daily outside The Salvation Army's Social Services Center in Medford as people seek food, shelter and support.Throughout National Salvation Army Week, the Medford Corps is inviting the public to recognize this moment with action. Community members are encouraged to donate nonperishable food, making financial gifts toward emergency services or volunteer.To learn how you can help the movement, visit "medford.salvationarmy.org" or call (541)-773-6965

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning decided against passing an ordinance that deals with the time, place and manner of its weekly business sessions. During a public hearing on the second reading of the ordinance, Legal Counsel Wally Hicks read the entire script and noted that weekly business session dates and times would be determined and adjusted by the Board of Commissioners. Several citizens spoke in favor of scrapping the ordinance and starting over, calling for consistency in the scheduling and location of the meetings. For many years, the Board held its business sessions on Wednesdays at 9 a.m., with an evening meeting held once each month. The current Commissioners initially moved the meetings to Fridays at 10 a.m. before deciding that Thursdays at 10 a.m. was a better time slot. In other business, the Board approved a request for a fee waiver from the Illinois Valley Fire District. Two IVFD representatives testified that the district is building a new facility in Selma and they asked for the waiver of traditional planning and development fees. The vote was 2-0, with Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett absent while attending the statewide Commissioners College. During the public comment period, one citizen requested that meeting agendas be made available to the public five days in advance. Another citizen asked the Board to work with the Grants Pass City Council to help remedy the current homeless situation. He said there will be a peaceful rally at the Courthouse on Saturday. Other comments heard by the Board included complaints about a security guard at the May 1st protest event, a complaint about the Board moving its monthly radio show off KAJO to a station in Medford, a claim that Commissioner Chris Barnett bused in and paid people to support him at last week's meeting, a question about Barnett's integrity and a call for the entire Board of Commissioners to resign.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department deployed two of its K9 officers to help arrest a man for alleged felony-level crimes at a city park yesterday. The Police Department reports officers -- assisted by K9s "Kick" and "Maro" -- arrested 34-year-old Kaleb James Farmer at Baker Park at 2:32 p.m. Wednesday. Police said they were looking for Farmer who was wanted for probable cause of Felony 2nd-Degree Assault, Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Tampering with Evidence related to a criminal investigation. No other details were available. Farmer was spotted near the old RADE building at the park and officers were concerned he might try to run away. They deployed the K9s to ensure containment and compliance of the suspect, who was placed into custody without incident. Farmer was lodged at the Josephine County Jail where he was being held without any scheduled bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office received assistance from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police with arresting a marijuana trafficking suspect at a fast food eatery in Grants Pass yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and state troopers placed 35-year-old Cory Richard Klimek into custody at the Taco Bell on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday at 2:25 p.m.. Few details were disclosed about the incident, but deputies said Klimek was in possession of a large amount of marijuana at the time of his arrest. The cannabis was seized as evidence and for eventual destruction. Klimek was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Possession and Delivery of Marijuana. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two people after their vehicle broke down in the Hugo area yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident in the 600-block of Oxyoke Road on Wednesday shortly after 3 p.m.. Deputies said they were alerted to a Jeep Liberty that broke down in the middle of the roadway while hauling a 5th-wheel trailer. The caller said the Jeep was initially on fire, but the flames subsided. The two occupants of the vehicle were identified as 46-year-old Dustin Thomas Roy Kelly and 44-year-old Megan Eileen Taffee. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that Kelly was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. Deputies also discovered that Taffee was wanted for probable cause for two counts of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. She was cited and released. However, a short time later she was arrested for Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and 2nd-Degree Theft and also lodged in jail. According to the report, a consent search of the vehicle uncovered a firearm and a "small amount of a drug substance." The gun was seized and the substance was destroyed.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on an outstanding warrant while looking into a trespassing complaint at a local church late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at Parkway Christian Center on NE Beacon Drive on Wednesday around 4:15 p.m.. Police said a pastor of the church called 9-1-1 to report a woman and two men doing drugs near the entrance to their gymnasium. The pastor was concerned due to a teen event scheduled to take place there at 5:30. Officers arrived on scene, contacted the trio and discovered that 51-year-old Holly Nicole Heffner-Kriss was wanted on a Medford warrant for Probation Violation. She was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. Heffner-Kriss and her male companions were trespassed from the church. The drug call was deemed to be unfounded.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on a local felony warrant early yesterday during an early morning traffic stop near Selma. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over a pickup driven by 48-year-old Hans Christian Oftedal at the intersection of Draper Valley and Indian Creek roads on Wednesday shortly before 1 a.m.. Deputies said they stopped Oftedal because the license plates on his truck were unreadable. They quickly discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for a weapons offense. Oftedal was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. His keys were taken to a female acquaintance in Selma so she could pick up his truck and dogs.