Local News

OSP Nabbed Two Motorists for Impaired Driving after Weekend Stops in the IV
The Oregon State Police arrested at least two motorists for impaired driving over the holiday weekend in the Illinois Valley. According to OSP, the first incident occurred on Saturday at 11:11 p.m. when state troopers pulled over a Mazda MZ3 driven by a 37-year-old Cave Junction man at the intersection of Redwood Highway and Laurel Drive. Troopers said they stopped the Mazda for a traffic violation and the driver showed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was cited to appear in court and released. His vehicle was parked and secured. The second incident happened on Sunday at 1:19 a.m. when troopers pulled over a Toyota Tundra driven by a 29-year-old Selma man at the intersection of Redwood Highway and Reeves Creek Road. Troopers said they stopped the Toyota for a traffic violation and the driver showed signs of impairment. They said he refused to participate in field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for DUII and his vehicle was impounded.
Posted on 1/21/25 10:42AM by Sam Marsh
 

Grants Pass Police Snared Frequent Trespasser on 2 Outstanding Warrants
Grants Pass Police arrested a man with a bad habit of trespassing on two local warrants early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 42-year-old George Charles Pearson Williams near the corner of the Grants Pass Parkway and NE Terry Lane on Monday at 8:44 a.m.. Police said they immediately placed Williams into custody because they knew he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. Williams was lodged in jail and his belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.
Posted on 1/21/25 10:40AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Collared Two Men for Numerous Felony-Level Crimes Late Last Week
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed two men for numerous felony-level crimes late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 27-year-old Aldane Hamilton and 26-year-old Dwayne Connell, Jr., last Thursday afternoon in an unspecified location. So far, there has been no press release or entry in the Sheriff's Log for the incident or incidents. Records show Hamilton and Connell were each booked into the Josephine County Jail for 17 criminal allegations including multiple counts of Kidnapping, Robbery and Unlawful Use of a Weapon as well as single counts of Burglary and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Following their Friday afternoon arraignments, Hamilton and Connell remained in custody this morning on $1 million bail.
Posted on 1/21/25 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Jailed Man for Alcohol-Fueled Altercation at Fast Food Restaurant
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for an alcohol-fueled altercation at a fast food eatery last weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested 30-year-old Mikel Eugene Cary for the incident at Carl's Jr. on NW 6th Street on Sunday at 7:10 p.m.. Police said Cary walked to Carl's Jr. from Motel 6 and -- at some time during his travels -- he decided to initiate a physical fight with two other men. Witnesses reported the suspect punched at least one person in the face and was trying to fight others before a bystander intervened, took him to the ground and restrained him until law enforcement arrived on scene. Cary was injured, but he declined medical attention. He was found to be wanted on an out-of-county warrant for Probation Violation and his corrections officer was contacted. Police said he was clearly under the influence of alcohol. Cary was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and the Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 1/21/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Arrested Man on Outside Warrant at Little Falls Campground in IV
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on an outside warrant while investigating a transient camp in the Illinois Valley. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted 38-year-old Edward Thomas Burke, III, at the Little Falls Campground on Saturday afternoon. Deputies said they were patrolling the campground when they spotted Burke and learned that he was wanted on an Ashland Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. After the warrant was confirmed with APD, Burke was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. His belongings were left with another man who was also camping at Little Falls.
Posted on 1/21/25 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Incarcerated Man for Repeated Trespassing at Downtown Safeway
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for refusing to leave a downtown supermarket from which he had been trespassed late last year. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 67-year-old Michael Alan Gendernalik at Safeway on SE 7th Street on Sunday at 7:50 p.m.. Police said a store manager called 9-1-1 to report ongoing issues with a male subject in a wheelchair. The caller said he had been hanging out at the store all day and refused to leave even when he was offered assistance to a nearby location. GPPD records indicated Gendernalik had been trespassed from Safeway on December 3rd. However, he refused to abide by his legal banishment. Gendernalik was lodged in jail for Criminal Trespass and his warning at Safeway was renewed. His belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.
Posted on 1/21/25 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
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Local Firefighters Contained Pine Tree Way Structure Fire in Selma to Garage
A Monday evening structure fire destroyed a garage in Selma, but no one was hurt and it did not spread to any other buildings. The Illinois Valley Fire District, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the reported fire on Pine Tree Way near Clear Creek Road at 6:22 p.m.. IVFD officials said arriving units found a significant fire engulfing a garage, but the blaze was contained to the garage, extinguished and fully-suppressed. There were no injuries reported among civilians or firefighters. Officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation. Meanwhile, the Pine Tree Way fire was just one of four that Rural Metro crews responded to in a 74-minute period late yesterday. The fires mobilized around 20 emergency vehicles from Rural Metro, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, IVFD and AMR. Rural Metro officials said three of the fires turned out to be non-hazardous open burns, called in by passersby who assumed they were buildings.
Posted on 1/21/25 6:10AM by Sam Marsh
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Applications Being Accepted for Seat on GP Public Safety Advisory Committee
Applications are being accepted for one position on the Grants Pass Public Safety Advisory Committee. This position is for a three-year term. The Public Safety Advisory Committee serves as a collaborative platform for community engagement and guidance on public safety matters. The committee aims to bridge the gap between the Grants Pass community and City Council to ensure that public safety strategies align with the needs and resources of the community. The special qualification for this position is a downtown business owner. 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, February 21st. Appointments will be made by the Grants Pass City Council at their regular meeting on Wednesday, March 5th.
Posted on 1/21/25 6:09AM by Sam Marsh
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Five Local Organizations Received OHA's "Healthy Homes" Grant Program Funds
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The Oregon Health Authority has awarded $23 million to repair and rehabilitate the homes of low-income residents to eliminate risks to their health to 34 local organizations and the nine federally-recognized tribes of Oregon. The funds come from the Healthy Homes Grant Program (HHGP), established to improve health by rehabilitating living environments throughout Oregon. The state Legislature established the HHGP in 2021. It directs OHA to provide grants to local organizations serving low-income residents to repair and rehabilitate homes. People living in poverty are more likely to live in substandard housing that is not healthy or safe. Five Southern Oregon organizations received HHGP grants including Habitat for Humanity-Rogue Valley, the Illinois Valley Community Response Team, Living Opportunities, Remake Talent and the United Community Action Network (UCAN). Living Opportunities was the largest local grant recipient, receiving $749,496 over a three-year period to improve housing conditions for low-income people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Jackson and Josephine counties. OHA sent letters of intent to successful grant applicants in August and has been working with individual organizations to finalize grant agreements by the end of this month.
Posted on 1/21/25 6:00AM by Sam Marsh
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State Grants Available for "Main Street" Building Projects in Cities Across Oregon
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The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is offering grants for up to $400,000 in matching funds for downtown revitalization efforts in communities participating in the Oregon Main Street Network. The Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant funds may be used to acquire, rehabilitate and construct buildings on properties in designated downtown areas across the state. Funded projects must facilitate community revitalization that will lead to private investment, job creation or retention, establishing or expanding viable businesses, or creating a strong tax base. Projects may include façade improvement, accessibility enhancement, basic utilities, second floor renovations and more. Only organizations participating in the Oregon Main Street Network are eligible to apply. Projects must be within approved Main Street areas. Eligible organizations may collaborate with local governments and private property owners to apply for projects that will have the biggest benefit to the downtown. The grant application deadline is March 13th. Preservation office staff is happy to talk with applicants about potential grant projects and review applications prior to submitting. To learn more about the grant and workshop, visit "oregonheritage.org."
Posted on 1/21/25 5:58AM by Sam Marsh
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GPHS Art Teacher Offers Commissioned Artwork to Support Scholarship Fund
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An art teacher at Grants Pass High School is inviting local businesses and organizations to partner with him to support his One Sweet World scholarship fund. Joshua Morton is offering to create custom artwork for local businesses in exchange for donations to the scholarship, which has helped Grants Pass students pursue post-secondary education since 2013. Since its creation, Morton has sold his art and donated nearly $40,000 to the fund, which supports high school seniors in his art class who are planning to continue their education after graduation. The scholarship is available to students pursuing any field of study. In exchange for a donation to the One Sweet World Scholarship Fund, Morton will complete an artwork piece tailored to the needs and style of the business or organization. Businesses or organizations interested in commissioning artwork or learning more about the One Sweet World Scholarship Fund can contact Morton at "jmorton@grantspass.k12.or.us."
Posted on 1/21/25 5:56AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Arrested Man on Outside Warrant at Little Falls Campground in the IV
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on an outside warrant while investigating a transient camp in the Illinois Valley. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted 38-year-old Edward Thomas Burke, III, at the Little Falls Campground on Saturday at 3:08 p.m.. Deputies said they were patrolling the campground when they spotted Burke and learned that he was wanted on an Ashland Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. After the warrant was confirmed with APD, Burke was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. His belongings were left with another man who was also camping at Little Falls.
Posted on 1/20/25 10:26AM by Sam Marsh
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