Local News

The Illinois Valley Fire District battled separate structure, recreational vehicle and boat fires on Monday. At 8:32 a.m. yesterday, IVFD, American Medical Response and Rural Metro Fire Department were dispatched to a structure fire in the 37,000-block of Redwood Highway near O'Brien. The fire was extinguished with heavy damage to the residence, but there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation. At 4:39 p.m., IVFD crews responded to a reported vehicle fire near the corner of Takilma and Dick George roads. Arriving units found a trailer on fire and quickly extinguished the blaze. There were no injuries. The fire was under investigation. At 5:54 p.m., IVFD crews responded to reports of smoke on a Forest Service Road in the Tarter Gulch area. Arriving units found a boat on fire and quickly doused the flames. Once again, there were no injuries reported and the incident was under investigation.

 

Authorities were investigating the cause of several small fires that broke out along the railroad tracks in the Wolf Creek area last weekend. On Sunday afternoon, Rural Metro Fire Department assisted the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District with extinguishing the railroad fires. Rural Metro officials said there were at least a dozen railroad ties burning as well as a 1/10th of an acre spot fire burning in nearby vegetation. Access to the fires was off the 100-block of Warner Road. By late afternoon, all the fires were contained and crews were engaged in mop-up operations. The cause of the fires had not been disclosed as of Monday.

 

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Urban Tree Advisory Committee due to a vacancy. This term expires on September 30, 2025. The purpose of this committee is to review, develop and implement programs and activities that promote, protect and enhance the urban forest as part of the Tree City USA program. The special qualification for this position is an interest in the promotion and enhancement of the urban forest in 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, April 5th. Applications will be reviewed by the committee on Monday, April 8th. The appointment will be made by the Grants Pass City Council during its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 1st.

 

A lawsuit filed last week alleges that legislator Christine Goodwin, a Douglas County Republican, should be ejected from her seat in Oregon's House of Representatives and disqualified from seeking the nomination for Senate District 2 because she doesn't actually live in either district. The Oregonian reports that if the lawsuit were to succeed, that would leave only one Republican candidate on the ballot for an open Senate seat, clearing the way for the departing incumbent's son to snag the spot. Goodwin has served in the House since August 2021, when she was appointed by county commissioners to replace Representative Gary Leif of Roseburg, who died in office. Goodwin won election to House District 4 in 2022, then announced last year that she would run for the seat in Senate District 2 held by Republican Art Robinson, who is barred from running again. Robinson was among the Republican senators blocked from reelection after they boycotted work in 2023. But the Oregonian reports the lawsuit alleges that Goodwin doesn't actually live in House District 4 or Senate District 2. Goodwin is registered to vote at a Canyonville property that lies inside those districts. But the lawsuit brought by several Grants Pass officials and voters alleges that Goodwin lives at an address in Myrtle Creek, which lies just outside the districts' boundary.

 

Residents living along NE A Street near Grants Pass High School will be receiving a letter from the City of Grants Pass regarding an upcoming construction project. During its Monday workshop session, the City Council considered options for the reconstruction and overlay of NE A between 8th Street and Beacon Drive. Assistant Public Works Director Wade Elliott told the Council that this section of the arterial street is experiencing rapid pavement deterioration. He said the project will be done in two phases -- from 8th Street to Baker Street and then from Baker to Beacon Drive. Work will be done during the summer months to avoid conflicts with GPHS and other nearby schools. A sewer line replacement is included. Based on a recommendation from the Bikeways & Walkways Committee, Elliott provided three options for the Council to consider. The first option would include five-foot bicycle paths on both sides of A Street, the second would include an elevated nine-foot two-way bike path on the north side of the street, and the third would not include any bike facilities. City staff was directed to send out a letter to residents on both sides of the street in order to gauge public preferences. The City hopes to solicit project bids by late April.

 

AllCare Health has announced a $20,000 grant award to the Josephine County Chapter of the American Legion. The grant is designed to improve food security for veterans, their families and prioritized vulnerable people by creating a remodeled kitchen at American Legion Post #28 in Grants Pass. The grant will fund a code-compliant kitchen so volunteers can provide hot meals in a safe location, decreasing risks of isolation in a trauma-informed setting. Food security is crucial to community health and well-being, and contributes to reducing the community burden of illness, disease and behavioral health challenges. American Legion Post #28 has provided important services to veterans and others for more than 80 years. This grant is part of AllCare Health pledge of $2.7 million in 2024 for improving the health and well-being of Southern Oregon communities. AllCare Health is an innovative, physician-owned and locally-operated healthcare organization.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested an O'Brien man on an outstanding warrant during a weekend traffic stop on Redwood Highway in Selma. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 36-year-old motorist on US Highway 199 near Illinois River Road on Saturday at 12:14 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the motorist for traffic violations and discovered that he was wanted on a local bench warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving While Suspended. He was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on the warrant. According to OSP, the pickup was left with a friend who arrived at the traffic stop location.

 

A Cave Junction man was arrested for drug possession during a weekend traffic stop in Selma. The Oregon State Police reports troopers pulled over a Cadillac sedan driven by a 54-year-old motorist in the 100-block of Deer Creek Road at 11 a.m. Saturday. Troopers said they stopped the motorist for traffic violations at the Ray's Food Place in Selma. They said drug paraphernalia was observed in plain sight inside the car. A consent search was conducted, the drug paraphernalia was seized as evidence and the man was detained. The suspect was cited to appear in court for the narcotics violation and released. He was also given a phone number to call for drug treatment.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass motorist for impaired driving after a weekend traffic stop in the Redwood area. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Honda CRV driven by a 42-year-old woman on Redwood Avenue near Southgate Way on Saturday at 5:37 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the motorist after observing her failing to maintain the travel lane multiple times. They said she displayed signs of impairment and also performed poorly in field sobriety tests. The suspect was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she provided a positive breath sample for alcohol impairment. She was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and her vehicle was impounded.