Local News

All Three Josephine County Law Enforcement Agencies Made One DUII Arrest
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All three law enforcement agencies in Josephine County made at least one arrest for impaired driving last weekend. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a 26-year-old woman for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving in an unspecified location on Friday. She was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail. The Oregon State Police arrested a 26-year-old man for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants in an unspecified location on Sunday. He was lodged in jail and was being held without bail. The Grants Pass Police Department arrested a 34-year-old man for Felony DUII in an unspecified location on Sunday. He was lodged in jail without bail.
Posted on 3/26/24 5:29AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Young Motorist for Driving Recklessly in Downtown Area
Grants Pass Police arrested a young motorist for hot-rodding his vehicle in the downtown area last weekend. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a Pontiac Firebird driven by a 20-year-old man near the corner of NE D and 6th streets on Sunday at 7:29 p.m.. Police said the man was observed "drifting" his car across multiple lanes of a public roadway. He was caught doing so on camera by another motorist as well as on a patrol vehicle dash cam. The driver admitted he should not have been driving in a manner that placed others in danger. He was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 3/26/24 5:18AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Evicted Campers for Drug Possession at City Parks Last Weekend
Grants Pass Police evicted two campers from city parks due to drug possession at the end of last weekend. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred on Sunday around 10:15 p.m. when they spotted a 33-year-old man violating city ordinances at Ogle Park on NW Washington Boulevard. Police said they contacted the man and found him to be in possession of violation quantities of controlled substances. He was also found to be wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving While Suspended. He was lodged in jail on the warrant, cited for the narcotics violation and trespassed from the park for 30 days. Officers contacted another man at Baker Park on Monday at 12:28 a.m.. He was found to be in possession of narcotics, cited to appear in court and issued a 30-day park exclusion.
Posted on 3/26/24 5:16AM by Sam Marsh
 

Investigators Believe Mechanical Issue Caused Vehicle Fire in Southeast GP
Investigators believe a mechanical issue is what caused a vehicle to burn in south Grants Pass last weekend. On Sunday morning, Rural Metro Fire Department responded to the reported vehicle fire in the 500-block of Trollview Road. Rural Metro officials said crews extinguished the fire in short order and were able to keep the flames from spreading to the adjacent structure. Officials said there no injuries reported, but the vehicle was completely destroyed.
Posted on 3/26/24 5:14AM by Sam Marsh
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Applications Open for Position on Grants Pass Tourism Advisory Committee
Applications are being accepted for an open position on the Grants Pass Tourism Advisory Committee. This position is for a three-year term. The goal of the Tourism Advisory Committee is to encourage visitors and residents to engage in community activities while enhancing the positive image of Grants Pass through marketing, promotions and destination management. The purpose of the committee is to review and advise the work of the city's tourism contractor. This includes reporting findings and recommendations to the Grants Pass City Council as needed. Special qualification for this position is a member representing lodging properties within the City of 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, May 24th.
Posted on 3/26/24 5:13AM by Sam Marsh
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US Senators Announce FY 2024 Funding for La Clinica and Southern Oregon University
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US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced major investments for Oregon to expand access to affordable, quality health care and mental health resources, boost manufacturing and enhance emergency response coordination -- including nearly $36 million in funding for 28 community projects across the state. The six-bill Fiscal Year 2024 minibus funding package cleared both chambers of Congress last week and was quickly signed by President Biden. The package includes $2 million for the La Clinica Acute Care Center Expansion Project to improve urgent care services for nearly 80,000 low-income, uninsured and under-insured residents in Jackson County. This expansion will enable La Clinica to add 12 exam rooms, on-site pharmacy services, an ancillary lab for same-day specimen processing, and in-house imaging capabilities. The funding also includes $500,000 for Southern Oregon University's Chinese Diaspora Project for SOU students to assist with a comprehensive statewide inventory of Chinese heritage sites in order to document this underrepresented population in the settlement and development of Oregon. The project will consist of archival research, targeted field visits and community outreach followed by archaeological investigations.
Posted on 3/26/24 5:10AM by Sam Marsh
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Citizens Invited to Help Oregon Emergency Management Department Improve Response
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When emergencies such as storms, fires and floods threaten Oregon communities, it's imperative to have a plan -- one that protects the most vulnerable and uses resources wisely. The people of Oregon know best what they need when emergencies happen and that's why the state's Department of Emergency Management (OEM) wants to hear from them. OEM seeks input from communities and individuals across the state with an interest in helping shape the future of emergency management in Oregon. The agency is looking for feedback on the draft framework for its 2023-2025 strategic plan -- a blueprint for how the agency plans to deliver customer service to communities and partners across the state prior to, during and after an emergency. To participate, take a brief survey by April 30th to share your view of OEM's mission, vision and values, and/or attend a virtual community town hall meeting where you can share your thoughts and discuss key strategies for how OEM can better serve the whole community. No emergency management expertise or prior experience is necessary, and all are welcome to take part. The OEM Town Hall is set for this Wednesday, March 27th, at 1:30 p.m.. For more information, e-mail "publicinfo@oem.oregon.gov."
Posted on 3/26/24 5:03AM by Sam Marsh
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RR Among Six Oregon Communities Receiving OCT Grants to Boost Arbor Day Events
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Oregon Community Trees (OCT) is helping boost Arbor Month celebrations in six Oregon communities this year, thanks to grants the nonprofit organization is giving out this spring. Holding a public celebration of Arbor Day is a condition for maintaining Tree City USA status from the National Arbor Day Foundation. OCT Board member Morgan Holen coordinates the grant-giving and she said the Tree City USA communities receiving grants this year are Rogue River, Coburg, Dallas, Lake Oswego, Pendleton and Redmond. The grants range from $350 to $720. The City of Rogue River will use its grant to buy a Japanese snowbell tree, shovels, rakes, a reusable canopy and children's art contest supplies plus take-home gifts for a tree-planting ceremony at the city arboretum in Palmerton Park. Oregon Community Trees is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to promote healthy urban and community forests through leadership, education, awareness and advocacy.
Posted on 3/26/24 4:59AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Assisted OSP with Capturing Felon Who Ran Away from Traffic Stop
The Grants Pass Police Department assisted the Oregon State Police with capturing a felon who fled on foot from a weekend traffic stop in the north part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 28-year-old man at the corner of NE 6th Street and Evelyn Avenue -- one block away from the original OSP stop -- on Saturday around 10:30 p.m.. Police said state troopers pulled over the man for a traffic violation and discovered that he was wanted on a local burglary warrant. The man bailed out of the vehicle and tried to run away, but he was placed into custody after a Taser was deployed. The suspect was checked out by medics and then lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a charge of Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 3/25/24 9:54AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Man on Local Warrants after Unusual Incident on Highway 199
Grants Pass Police jailed a man on three outstanding warrants after an unusual weekend incident on Redwood Highway near the South Y intersection. According to the Police Department, officers arrested the 41-year-old man near the intersection of US Highway 199 and Tussey Lane on Saturday at 6:15 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that a male subject had thrown his backpack into the roadway in the South Y area. The caller said the man kept on walking after he threw the backpack into the right-hand travel lane. Officers responded and contacted the suspect who was found to be wanted on three Josephine County warrants for failing to appear in court on charges including Felony Methamphetamine Possession, Theft of Services and Criminal Trespass. The suspect was lodged on the warrants at the Josephine County Jail and his bail was set at $65,000. He was also warned for Disorderly Conduct.
Posted on 3/25/24 9:53AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Wanted Man for Trespassing with Jeep at Counseling Center
Grants Pass Police arrested a wanted man for trespassing with his vehicle at a local counseling center this past weekend. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident at Transform Counseling on NE Beacon Drive on Saturday around 11:30 a.m.. Police said an employee reported that there was a Jeep Cherokee with an open utility trailer on the property and they wanted it removed. Officers arrived on scene and contacted a 42-year-old man in the driver seat of the Jeep. He was found to be wanted on a local arrest warrant. The alleged crime or crimes were not disclosed. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. His vehicle was moved off the property, parked and secured.
Posted on 3/25/24 9:51AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Arrested California Man for Lying about Identity in Interstate 5 Traffic Stop
The Oregon State Police arrested a California man who lied about his identity during a weekend traffic stop on Interstate 5 in the North Valley area. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Dodge Charger driven by a 28-year-old Livingston, California, man in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 63 on Saturday at 12:15 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the Dodge for a traffic violation and the driver provided a false name and date of birth. The man's true identity was discovered a short time later and he was placed into custody. It was unclear why he lied to OSP. The suspect was transported to the Josephine County Jail and booked on a charge of Furnishing False Information to Police. His vehicle was impounded.
Posted on 3/25/24 9:50AM by Sam Marsh
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