Local News

UPDATE: MISSING MAN HAS BEEN LOCATED SAFELY

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is asking for public assistance in finding a Cave Junction man who has been reported missing. Sheriff's officials said 55-year-old Gregory A. Hall was last seen leaving his home on Cedar Ridge Drive on Tuesday around 10:30 a.m.. He was driving a white Kia Rio with Oregon license plate "299 NJF." Hall was last seen wearing white floral-pattern swim shorts, a blue shirt and brown shoes. He left with his small Australian terrier dog. He is currently believed to be in the Illinois Valley area where he frequents surrounding woods and rivers. Hall is described as a white male adult, 5-feet-9-inches tall and 209 pounds, with graying blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Gregory Hall is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for attacking another woman with a large knife at a city park late last week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 20-year-old Kassandrea Faith Electra Caryn Sinks on Monday for the incident that occurred at Baker Park last Thursday afternoon. On May 1st at 1:53 p.m., the Grants Pass Community Response Team (CRT) was contacted by a female subject at Baker Park who stated she had been injured on her ear. Upon investigation, officers learned that the woman had been slashed across her left ear with a large knife, causing a laceration that required numerous stitches. Further investigation revealed that the victim and suspect had been involved in an argument inside the park that turned physical. The dispute escalated to the point where the suspect -- identified as Kassandrea Sinks -- retaliated by slashing the victim across the side of the head with a large "Army-style" knife. According to the report, Sinks received assistance in hiding from law enforcement and she eventually fled the park area. After Sinks was located and arrested on Monday, she was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Assault and Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon. She was being held without bail and has since been served with a local warrant charging her with Felony Identity Theft and 2nd-Degree Theft.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man this week for multiple crimes after they caught him prowling around properties in the northeast part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested 44-year-old Joshua Colin Hawkins in the 1100-block of NE C Street late Monday night. Police said Hawkins was called in for attempting to enter an Air B&B through the front door and then went to the back of the house through a gate. The occupant told him to leave and he appeared to be casing other nearby properties. Another person reported that he tried to enter their house through a sliding glass door. Officers arrived on scene and found Hawkins exiting a carport with an arm full of stolen items. The suspect took off running and a short foot pursuit took place before he was tackled to the ground and placed into custody. According to the report, Hawkins was put in ankle restraints for being combative and destructive throughout the incident. No one was injured. Hawkins was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempted 1st-Degree Burglary, Felony 2nd-Degree Burglary, 3rd-Degree Theft, 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Attempted Escape. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving, an outstanding warrant and drug possession during a traffic stop in the Merlin area this week. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Volkswagen Jetta driven by 25-year-old Cody Miles Marvin on Venture Place near Merlin Road late Monday night. Troopers said they stopped Marvin for traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. He was found to be wanted on a warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He initially declined to perform field sobriety tests and was placed into custody on the warrant. According to OSP, additional signs of impairment were observed and probable cause was developed to arrest Marvin for DUII. A search of the vehicle uncovered marijuana, alcohol and drug paraphernalia with methamphetamine residue. He was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he agreed to perform sobriety tests and provide a urine sample. Marvin was lodged in jail on the warrant plus new charges of DUII-Controlled Substances, Reckless Driving and Meth Possession. His Jetta was impounded and towed to Grants Pass.

 

With some difficulty, Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for drug possession in the northwest part of the city this week. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 38-year-old Shani Renee Fedosky near The Orchid Grill on NW 6th Street on Monday night. Police said a business owner reported Fedosky was smoking out of a drug pipe behind the building and they wanted her trespassed. Officers detained her and her drug paraphernalia field-tested positive for methamphetamine. While transporting Fedosky to the Josephine County Jail, she slipped out of her handcuffs. Officers re-secured the cuffs and she became combative, requiring her to be taken to the ground. No one was injured. Fedosky was lodged in jail for Meth Possession. She was being held without bail. She was also trespassed from the incident location.

 

A green pasture mixed with dry grass allowed for an unattended open burn to escape control in the Murphy area yesterday. On Tuesday at 12:58 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department responded to the grass fire in the 9300-block of North Applegate Road. Fanned by typical afternoon winds and a lack of on-site capabilities to maintain containment, the fire spread to approximately 1/4-acre. There was no structural threat, but the occupant requested assistance from Rural Metro to extinguish the blaze. Rural Metro officials said spring land-clearing during open burn season comes with a list of reminders to ensure burning projects remain safe and successful. Construct a vegetation-free ring down to dirt around the burn pile to lessen the chance for escape. Have a reliable water source on site. Have a shovel or other tools on site to take action in case of spread. Carry a charged cell phone to call 9-1-1 quickly if needed. Burn only in the morning to avoid afternoon winds. Stay in attendance of the burn. Fully extinguish ash with water, then check for heat with bare hands.

 

Applications are being accepted for a four-year position on the Grants Pass Historical Buildings & Sites Commission. The Historical Buildings & Sites Commission's purpose is to review proposed alterations to any historic district or designated structure in the Urban Growth Boundary, to promote the community's historical preservation, to advise other interested agencies on matters related to historical preservation, and to identify areas and buildings of historical and archaeological significance. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a City of Grants Pass resident. This position is for a representative who is the owner of a business located within the Central Business District 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 30th.

 

Last year, Oregon had one of the most destructive fire seasons in its history. With 1.9 million acres burned, communities were tested and lives were changed. But amid the devastation, there were also stories of resilience -- homes that stood strong because they had defensible space. As May marks "Wildfire Awareness Month," the Oregon State Fire Marshal is urging Oregonians to act now. With the possibility of another challenging fire season ahead, preparing your home could make all the difference. Start with small changes that have a big impact. Space and prune trees to prevent fires from climbing into canopies. Remove leaves, pine needles, bark mulch and other debris within 100 feet of structures or up to your property line. Clean roofs and gutters of flammable debris. Move combustible materials -- like mulch and firewood -- away from your home. Keep plants trimmed and clear of dead material, especially near the house. Avoid planting directly under eaves -- leave at least a five-foot buffer. As you clean up your yard, be mindful about disposal. Consider chipping, composting or recycling. If burning is necessary, always follow local rules. Debris burns that get out of control are the leading cause of human-caused wildfires in Oregon. For more information, please visit "oregondefensiblespace.org."

 

It's Drinking Water Week 2025. For more than 40 years, the American Water Works Association and its members have used Drinking Water Week as a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives. This week, Grants Pass Public Works will present information about the drinking water in this city along with some items of interest for children. How much water does the average city customer use each day? Residential customers of Grants Pass use an average of approximately 350 gallons per day. It's important to note that Grants Pass tracks its customers, not individual water users. A customer account likely has several people living there, especially if it's one of the 1,000+ multi-family housing units in the city. How long is the water distribution system in Grants Pass? The distribution system is made up of five different elevation zones and over 188 miles of distribution lines varying in size from two to 36 inches in diameter.