Local News

As local children return to school this week, emergency first responders say safety on the road becomes more important than ever. The Illinois Valley Fire District is sharing some tips to help keep everyone safe. Watch for school buses. Slow down and stop when the bus lights are flashing. Yield to pedestrians. Kids can be unpredictable. Keep an eye out at crosswalks and in school zones. Avoid distractions. Stay focused on the road, with no texting or multitasking behind the wheel. Plan your route. Expect more traffic during school hours. Give yourself extra time to avoid rushing around. IVFD officials said together, we can make this school year safe for everyone.

 

As the new school year begins this week, families have a limited window to secure essential food assistance through the new Summer EBT program. The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access. With the application deadline approaching on September 2nd, it's crucial for eligible families to act now. Thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify for this benefit. The Oregon Department of Human Services and Oregon Department of Education are urging families to check their eligibility and apply before the deadline. Remember, once benefits are received, you have 122 days to use them. Most eligible children received their benefits automatically on June 28th, if their households participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or are Oregon Health Plan members in households with incomes under 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. Children in foster care also automatically received Summer EBT. However, families who did not receive benefits automatically should still apply to determine their eligibility. Families are encouraged to visit "sebt.oregon.gov" or contact the Summer EBT Call Center at 1-(833)-ORE-SEBT to verify their eligibility and apply.

 

The City of Grants Pass has announced that applications will open next month for rehabilitation and weatherization grants for low-income homeowners. The City of Grants Pass application period for the Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) runs from September 3rd through September 30th. The CDBG program is offered for city residents only and only for owner-occupied stick-built homes. Mobile homes, manufactured homes or rentals are not eligible. The grants must be used for repair and rehabilitation, weatherization, accessibility upgrades and/or lead delineation. Household income qualification standards are set at $45,300 for one person, $51,800 for two persons, $58,250 for three persons, $64,700 for four persons, $69,900 for five persons and $75,100 for six persons or more. The CDBG program allocates funds each year for these types of projects based on the annual award the city receives from the US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agency. The funds are limited, applications must meet the income level and not all repairs are eligible. Apply online at "grantspassoregon.gov" or you can pick up an application in the Community Development Department Office at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street. For more information, call Amber Neeck (541)-450-6060.

 

Applications are being accepted for two three-year appointments on the Grants Pass Housing Advisory Committee due to expiring terms. The Housing Advisory Committee (HAC) explores opportunities to facilitate the provision of housing for all income levels and it makes recommendations to the Grants Pass City Council. The HAC also promotes public awareness of housing resources and promotes public participation in identifying and addressing housing issues and needs. The City Council may authorize the HAC to conduct public hearings as specified in the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Citizen Participation Plan. Special qualifications for these positions are one representative from a financial institution or lender, and one representative who is a renter in the low- to moderate-income category. 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, October 11th.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man on a statewide felony warrant at a local fast food restaurant late last week. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 31-year-old male subject at Carl's Jr. on NW 6th Street last Friday morning. Police said an officer spotted the subject at the fast food eatery and knew that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. He was taken into custody without incident and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show the man has been arrested for violating his parole three times since March of this year.

 

With some difficulty, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Cave Junction woman on an outstanding local warrant over the weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 33-year-old female subject in the 100-block of South Caves Avenue on Saturday shortly before the noon hour. Deputies were investigating a theft complaint when they contacted the woman and learned that she was wanted on a Josephine County Felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. According to the report, a woman was at a work party late Friday afternoon when someone stole her purse with her wallet, keys and phone inside. The arrestee was not charged with that crime, but she was a suspect. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. Deputies said she was kicking and spitting in the patrol vehicle, and they considered stopping to place her in leg wraps and a spit hood.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for kicking in the front door of a residence near the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing call in the 200-block of SW Central Avenue on Saturday at 10:05 p.m.. Police said a 65-year-old male subject was allowed to stay at the incident location for a few days, but he was kicked out by the homeowner after he started yelling that people were after him. The subject appeared to be impaired by narcotics, which caused to him to hallucinate that a mob was going to get him. The man refused to leave the premises and he began kicking the front door of the home until it broke. Arriving officers placed him into custody without incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and he was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant while investigating a trespassing complaint at a residence near Bi-Mart. The Police Department reports officers responded to the trespassing call in the 400-block of Marion Lane on Friday afternoon. Police said a homeowner called 9-1-1 to report a male transient sleeping on the side of his house. The caller advised that he yelled at the subject to wake him up, but he did not move. Officers arrived on scene and contacted the 30-year-old man, discovering that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to an arrest for 4th-Degree Assault. He was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and he was trespassed from the Marion Lane residence.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for stealing merchandise from Walmart and one of them on an outstanding warrant. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred on Saturday at 3:41 p.m. when officers responded to a trespassing complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane. Police said a 36-year-old female subject concealed over $100 worth of items and failed to pay for them. She left as a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped a short time later by the Oregon State Police. She was arrested and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. The stolen merchandise was recovered. The second incident happened on Saturday at 9:46 p.m. when officers responded to a trespassing call at Walmart. This time, a 45-year-old male subject was arrested after he was observed taking merchandise and not paying for it. Police said the subject was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Escape. He was lodged in jail on the warrant plus a new charge of 3rd-Degree Theft.