Local News

The Grants Pass Police Department recognized heroic contributions from its employees over the past year during a ceremony this week. GPPD Chief Warren Hensman hosted the ceremony that included 16 awards ranging from life-saving medals to employees of the year. Lifesaving Awards were presented to Dispatchers Cameron Cates and Jessi Leppla along with Sergeant Brian Coney and Officer Darron O'Donnell. Lucas Six was named Officer of the Year and the Chief's Award went to Corporal Andrew Aguinaga. Telecommunicator of the Year was Dispatcher Treana Carrier. The Unit Citation Award went to the GPPD Records Division and Supervisor of the Year was Sergeant Josh Nieminen. Trainer of the Year was Dispatcher Naomi LaTourrette. The Fitness Award went to 9-1-1 Manager Marci Haack. The Non-Sworn Employee of the Year was Community Service Officer Arianna Donovan. On-Call Employee of the Year was Records Specialist Susan Stone. Citizen Appreciation Awards went to Teri Schmidt and Lonnie Summers while Dan Horowitz was named Volunteer of the Year. Congratulations!

 

With the February 19th deadline fast approaching for updating children's vaccinations, the Oregon Immunization Program at the Oregon Health Authority reminds parents and caregivers that their children may miss out on school or child care if their records on file show missing immunizations. Under state law, by the third Wednesday in February all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start and certified child care facilities must submit documentation showing they are up-to-date on required immunizations or have an exemption. This year, if a child's vaccination records do not show up-to-date immunizations by next Wednesday, the child's school or certified care center will send them home. Leading up to the school immunization deadline last year, local health departments in Oregon sent 24,306 letters to parents and caregivers informing them that they needed to submit records showing up-to-date immunizations for their children. This year, public health authorities mailed letters to families on or before February 5th. Parents and caregivers seeking immunizations for their children should contact their health care provider or local health department. No one can be turned away from a local health department because of their inability to pay for required vaccines. Many pharmacists also immunize children ages 7 and older.

 

Southern Oregon University's Cascade Complex is being demolished over the next two months to make room for the anticipated development of a senior living center. SOU's Cascade Complex is an obsolete cluster of nine residence halls and a cafeteria on the southwest corner of campus that have been largely unused since 2013. Staton Companies, a Eugene-based contractor, was awarded a contract to demolish the Cascade Complex following a competitive bidding process. The demolition portion of the job started last month and is being done for just under $1.7 million. That and all other aspects of the project -- including abatement and disposal of asbestos and other hazardous materials, and preparation of the site for future use -- are being covered by a $3.5 million allocation from the 2021 Oregon Legislature to responsibly raze the facility. The facility's demolition will eliminate ongoing upkeep costs for the university, and also removes an estimated $12 million in "deferred maintenance" projects that would have been necessary to rehabilitate the complex's failing infrastructure. The current demolition work is expected to be completed by the end of March.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is preparing to host its annual Search and Rescue (SAR) Academy later this month. The Search & Rescue Division will be holding its annual Academy to train new SAR volunteers from February 18th through March 15th at 250 Tech Way in the North Valley Industrial Park. The Academy covers Basic Survival Skills, First Aid/CPR, Land Navigation and more. Course completion qualifies attendees as Search and Rescue volunteers. Cost for the Academy is $55. Additional requirements include a background check, criminal history check and personal equipment purchase. The Academy runs Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.. The application deadline is Monday, February 17th. For registration and details, visit "bit.ly/4hjCVDU." For more information, e-mail "sar@josephinecounty.gov."

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for attacking his girlfriend at a northeast city home last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 57-year-old Richard Allen Wood for the incident at a NE Baker Drive residence on Tuesday around 8:45 p.m.. 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. He was being held without bail pending his Circuit Court arraignment this afternoon.

 

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 at 6:15 p.m.. 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.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for stealing a fire extinguisher from Fire Mountain Gems and discharging it early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 31-year-old Kody Tyler Halverson at the business on Fire Mountain Way around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police said Halverson stole a fire extinguisher from Fire Mountain Gems valued at about $125. They said he ran across the street and discharged the fire extinguisher for fun, without any real reason for doing so. Halverson fled into Joann's Fabrics at the Grants Pass Shopping Center and he was contacted while leaving the store with stolen merchandise visible in his clothing. He admitted he did not pay for the items. During a consent search, he was found to be in possession of a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue. It was seized. Halverson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft, Meth Possession and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on an outstanding warrant after she caused a disturbance at a southeast city apartment complex yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a reported break-in attempt at Holiday Garden Apartments on East Park Street at 1:10 p.m. Tuesday. Police said a caller reported a female subject -- later identified as 51-year-old Gennette Elise Hudgins -- was trying to get into the caller's apartment. They said the woman arrived on a scooter and was knocking on the door and ringing the bell. Officers arrived on scene and contacted Hudgins, placing her into custody when it was discovered that she was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Larceny. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

No one was injured in a crash that occurred when a motorist pulled out in front of another vehicle on Williams Highway near Provolt late yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision near milepost 10 of Highway 238 on Tuesday shortly after 6 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation determined that a Ford F-150 driven by a 70-year-old woman failed to yield to oncoming traffic when she entered the highway from a driveway. They said a Ford Escape driven by a 28-year-old Medford man was unable to stop in time and struck the rear of the pickup. According to OSP, there were no apparent injuries and the Ford Escape was towed to Grants Pass. Four Medford residents including two juveniles were in the car. Following the investigation, the at-fault driver was either cited or warned for the violation.