Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on weapons charges after a traffic stop on Williams Highway in south Grants Pass this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Justin Lewin in the 1300-block of Highway 238 late Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said they stopped Lewin for an unsafe lane change, discovered that he was in possession of two guns and found that he did not have a concealed handgun permit or any other type of licensing. The guns were seized as evidence. Lewin was charged with two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. He was cited to appear in court on March 5th at 9 a.m. and then released from custody.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a Grants Pass motorist early yesterday after he crashed a vehicle on Rogue River Highway. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the 3500-block of Highway 99 on Thursday at 12:23 a.m.. Troopers said the 60-year-old man was driving a Chevrolet Silverado when he lost control on the icy highway and collided with a fence. They said no one was hurt and the pickup did not sustain any damage, but the fence was heavily damaged. Following an investigation, the motorist was cited for Driving While Suspended. The motorist and the property owner were supplied with OSP crash reports.

 

After slow-moving negotiations on the lease for the Grants Pass branch library, Josephine County and the Josephine Community Library District have finally set a meeting to talk about the issue. The meeting was announced on Thursday, just one day before the threatened cancellation of the lease for the building at 200 NW C Street. It is set for next Tuesday, February 11th, at 1 p.m.. In a move that shocked the community, the Board of Commissioners voted on January 6th to terminate the lease with the library district with 30 days' notice. Josephine County has yet to officially notify the library of the lease termination. A January 8th Josephine County press release noted that the County and the library had a "framework" for renegotiation. The agenda item for next week's meeting is titled "Consideration of Lease Termination for County-Owned Real Property." Attorneys for the district reached out to the Commissioners on January 22nd and again on January 31st to schedule a meeting. Until now, the County had provided no guidance on when negotiations would take place. Library leaders say they are eager to begin negotiations with an eye toward extending the lease for another 10 years or until such time as the library moves into its own building. Community members are encouraged to attend the February 11th meeting or continue making their voices heard by contacting the Commissioners at "bcc@josephinecounty.gov."

 

Starting Saturday, candidate filing will open for the new Josephine County Rural Fire Protection District board of directors. The fire district was formed by order of the Board of Commissioners on November 20th. Candidates will be applying to serve on the all-volunteer citizen board for the fire district. The boundary is similar to that of Rural Metro Fire Department's current service area. Rural Metro officials said the department has been serving the equivalent to a rural fire protection district in Josephine County since 1979. The area is geographically described as "outside the Grants Pass city limits, stretching from Sunny Valley to Wonder, Galice to Murphy and all parts in between." It is not to be confused with the existing fire districts of Illinois Valley, Applegate Valley, Williams or Wolf Creek. If someone you know who lives in the affected area is willing to dedicate time and energy to learning what it takes to adequately meet the emergency response needs of the community, encourage them to file for a board position. Forms can be found on the Josephine County Clerk's webpage.

 

Rogue Community College invites community members to receive free dental hygiene screenings next week at the clinic at the RCC Table Rock Campus in White City. This opportunity provides vital hands-on experience for students in the RCC Dental Hygiene Program while offering an important community service. The screenings will be performed by RCC students under the supervision of licensed dental professionals, ensuring a safe and educational experience for everyone involved. These screenings are a crucial part of the students' training, preparing them to excel in their future careers as dental hygienists. The RCC Dental Hygiene Clinic is equipped with modern facilities to ensure patients receive high-quality care. Screenings may include an evaluation of oral health, preventive care recommendations and education on maintaining good oral hygiene practices. Appointments are required and they can be scheduled by calling the RCC Dental Hygiene Clinic at (541)-755-7577 or by e-mailing "dentalinfo@roguecc.edu."

 

Following a brief break in the winter storm activity, another potent storm is set to strike Southern Oregon and extreme Northern California. The National Weather Service has posted a Winter Storm Warning and a Winter Weather Advisory for Josephine, Jackson, Douglas and eastern Curry counties that runs from 1 p.m. today through 10 a.m. Friday. For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow is expected above 2,000 feet. This includes the Siskiyou Summit and Canyon Mountain Pass on Interstate 5, Highways 62, 227 and 230 as well as the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area. For the Winter Weather Advisory, up to three inches of snow is possible on valley floors. This includes Interstate 5 passes north of Grants Pass plus Highways 62, 138, 238 and 42. Travel could be very difficult at times. Hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, fully-charged phone, blankets, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. For updated road conditions in Oregon, visit "tripcheck.com." For updated road conditions in California, visit quickmap.dot.ca.gov."

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for violating a court order by acting aggressively at his mother's residence last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 35-year-old Anthony Allen Harrell for the incident in the 1400-block of SW Bridge Street on Wednesday at 8:37 p.m.. Police said Harrell's mother called 9-1-1 to report that her son showed up at her house and was standing in the doorway, frightening children inside the home. She had obtained a restraining order protecting her from her son. Officers arrived on scene and Harrell's mother handed them a clear glass pipe with a white crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. She advised it came from her son. Harrell was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail. A charge of Meth Possession was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man this week for alleged drug trafficking in the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested 63-year-old David Allen Gericke on Tuesday afternoon. He was booked into the Josephine County Jail at 4:34 p.m.. Details about the investigation that led to Gericke's arrest are sketchy as there was no entry in the GPPD Daily Log. Jail records show he was lodged on charges of Felony Delivery of Methamphetamine and Felony Possession of Cocaine plus Possession of Meth. Gericke was being held without bail pending his arraignment in Josephine County Circuit Court this afternoon.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for old and new drug charges while performing a welfare check in the downtown area early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 64-year-old William Ward Fleming, Jr., in the 900-block of NE D Street on Wednesday around 6:45 a.m.. Police said Fleming had been called in by a citizen who saw him slumped over his bicycle in the snow and not moving. The caller said they drove by, came back 20 minutes later and the male subject was still there. Officers contacted Fleming while he was actively sleeping. He had to be awakened while resting on his bike. He was well-known to them from past criminal contacts. Fleming was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. He admitted to police that he had a meth pipe and a small amount of meth on his person. They were seized for destruction. Fleming was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. His bike was logged into evidence for safekeeping.