Local News

The newly-minted Grants Pass City Council has called a special meeting for today in which it plans to reverse much of the work done by the previous municipal policy-making panel. Grants Pass Mayor Clint Scherf and Councilors Indra Nicholas, Victoria Marshall, Erich Schloegl and Kathleen Krohn were sworn into office during a brief Monday workshop session. Today's Council Action items include resolutions adopting allowable locations for camping, revoking the grant agreements between the City of Grants Pass and the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) for a navigation center and shelter, suspending the Caveman Pool project and reallocating the funds to Public Safety, and shutting down the Collaborative Economic Development Committee, Housing Advisory Committee and Sustainability & Energy Action Committee. The Council also plans to convene as the Urban Renewal Agency to suspend the use of URA funds to pay for the Caveman Pool project. There will be a public comment period in which citizens can testify either for or against these actions. Today's Special Meeting starts at 3 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

The National Weather Service has posted an Air Stagnation Advisory for southwest Oregon that will run through the rest of this week. The Air Stagnation Advisory for Josephine, Jackson, Douglas and eastern Curry counties will be in effect from 10 a.m. today until at least noon Friday. According to the NWS, strong valley inversions will result in weak winds, poor mixing and ventilation. This will lead to stagnant air conditions that will trap pollutants near the surface. Poor air quality may cause issues for people with respiratory problems. Those with respiratory illnesses should follow their physicians' advice for dealing with high levels of air pollution during periods of stagnant air. Mixing and ventilation should be better at the south end of the Rogue Valley from around Talent to Ashland due to stronger southeast winds.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a local felony warrant in Cave Junction late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 25-year-old Andrew Benito Cruz-Martinez near the corner of West Watkins Street and South Hussey Avenue on Friday afternoon. Cruz-Martinez was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a 2020 conviction for 2nd-Degree Arson. Cruz-Martinez was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating his post-prison supervision by attempting to siphon gas from vehicles at an auto shop in the Cloverlawn area. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint at Ray Houck Automotive in the 2600-block of Cloverlawn Drive on Saturday shortly after 2 a.m.. Police said the property owner called 9-1-1 to report a male subject who was seen trying to siphon gas from vehicles parked overnight at the auto repair facility. The crime was captured on surveillance video that was shared with responding officers. According to the report, 39-year-old Jason Allen Eldred was contacted in his vehicle with multiple gas cans and a hose in his possession. He admitted trying to siphon gas, but was unsuccessful. He also admitted to driving to the location and he was found to have a suspended license. He was identified as a convicted felon. Eldred was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation and Driving While Suspended. He was being held on a no-bail detainer and his vehicle was impounded.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested an uncooperative man early yesterday for allegedly setting off an alarm at a downtown business and then resisting efforts to place him into custody. According to the Police Department, officers responded to an alarm at Red Eye Hut on NW 6th Street on Sunday at 4:06 a.m.. Police said they observed 42-year-old Jeromie Duane Wharregard walking away from the business. He was advised he was being detained during the investigation, but he refused to comply and continued walking away. He was eventually overpowered, but still struggled while being placed in handcuffs. Upon further investigation, it was determined that Wharregard was not involved with the alarm call. However, he was arrested due to his uncooperative nature. Wharregard was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Obstructing Governmental Administration and Resisting Arrest.

 

An Arizona man was injured when he crashed his vehicle on Interstate 5 in the Sunny Valley area over the weekend. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 73 at about 4:45 p.m. Saturday. Troopers said a 29-year-old man from Tribune, Arizona, was driving a Toyota Matrix when he hydroplaned due to the rain and wet freeway conditions. His vehicle subsequently rolled off the roadway and collided with the embankment. According to OSP, the driver was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. His vehicle sustained moderate damage and was towed to Grants Pass. No citations were issued.

 

The National Weather Service has posted an Air Stagnation Advisory for southwest Oregon that will run through most of this week. The Air Stagnation Advisory for Josephine, Jackson, Douglas and eastern Curry counties will be in effect from 10 a.m. Tuesday until at least noon Friday. According to the NWS, strong valley inversions will result in weak winds, poor mixing and ventilation. This will lead to stagnant air conditions that will trap pollutants near the surface. Poor air quality may cause issues for people with respiratory problems. Those with respiratory illnesses should follow their physicians' advice for dealing with high levels of air pollution during periods of stagnant air. Mixing and ventilation should be better at the south end of the Rogue Valley from around Talent to Ashland due to stronger southeast winds.

 

An exhaustive multi-agency investigation into a December 17th shooting incident at a southeast Grants Pass apartment complex has resulted in the arrest of four men on multiple felony-level charges. The Grants Pass Police Department responded that evening to several calls of shots being fired at the apartments located in the 1400-block of Rogue River Highway. Police officers from GPPD, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and OSP arrived on scene and determined the suspects fled the scene in a vehicle. Law enforcement quickly determined that multiple shots were fired at the apartments, but no one was struck by any bullets. The initial investigation concluded that six people in two apartments could have been struck by gunfire if the trajectories had been different. Due to the violent behavior demonstrated in the incident, the case became priority one of the GPPD Criminal Investigation Division. Over the past weeks, detectives have been working tirelessly to identify those responsible for the shooting. There were several hundred hours of manpower used to conduct interviews, collect evidence and search for the suspects. As a result of the investigation, 32-year-old William Michael, 20-year-old Joshua Treetop, 18-year-old Easton Foley and 18-year-old Austin Shaw-Rideout were arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The suspects have been charged with six counts each of Felony Attempted Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for multiple crimes after he harassed a coffee stand employee in the downtown area over the weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at the Human Bean stand in the 700-block of SE 7th Street late Saturday morning. Police said a man later identified as 30-year-old Brandon Keaun Fergusson was making the female barista feel uncomfortable with intimidating statements. She was attempting to make him a coffee so he would go away when he climbed into the stand through the window. Fergusson was told to get out of the stand and he did so, but the victim was in fear of imminent injury before he left the coffee stand. Officers used video surveillance to identify the suspect, a search of the area was conducted, the suspect was located a short time later and placed into custody. Fergusson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Burglary, Menacing and Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.