Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing merchandise from Walmart and fleeing the scene yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the shoplifting incident at the store on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday at 11:50 a.m.. Police said 31-year-old Kale Phillip Luke deprived Walmart of nearly $120 worth of items by passing all points of sale without paying for them. They said he took off and ran when loss prevention officers tried to detain him. Responding officers located Luke in a field near Arby's and placed him into custody. He had stolen some rings and a Dragon Ball hat, which he discarded near the fast food restaurant. They learned he had stolen an Oregon Ducks hat from Walmart on Tuesday. Luke was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. He was also trespassed from the big box retailer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night after she crashed a vehicle in front of a downtown area residence. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the 700-block of SW G Street on Wednesday at 8:10 p.m.. Police said a resident called 9-1-1 to report a female subject crashed a dark blue sedan into a curb in front of their house and the woman tried to leave, but her car was stuck on the curb. No one was hurt and no other vehicles were involved. According to the report, the violent impact broke an axle on the car and flattened two of its tires. There was video surveillance footage of the accident. Officers contacted the driver whom they identified as "Karen Sholes." She showed signs of impairment and had a strong odor of alcohol on her breath. She admitted to drinking and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. Sholes was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. She was cited to appear in court and released, but her disabled car was impounded.

 

Authorities have identified skeletal remains found near Jacksonville last year as a missing Evans Valley man. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports detectives got a break in a suspicious death investigation this week when the skeletal remains were identified through a DNA comparison as 63-year-old Nathan Louis Merkel of Wimer. Merkel's skeleton was discovered on April 14th outside Jacksonville in the south Applegate area. The rugged terrain and remote area required Jackson County Search & Rescue to assist in recovering the remains. Detectives said Merkel was reported missing in September 2023. They said his next-of-kin was notified and their condolences go out to his family and friends. Detectives are investigating the case and believe Merkel died via suspicious circumstances. They have identified persons of interest who are currently in custody on unrelated charges in a different law enforcement jurisdiction. The suspects' names will be released pending further investigation and if any charges are brought against them.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office assisted the United States Marshals Service with the apprehension of a Selma man wanted on a statewide felony warrant. Sheriff's deputies and US Marshals arrested 35-year-old William Allen Tweet in the 100-block of Norman Road around midday Tuesday. Tweet was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation related to a past conviction for 1st-Degree Theft. He was also wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Disorderly Conduct. Deputies said Tweet was placed into custody while he was walking down Norman Road. They said he did not resist being arrested. Tweet was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for drug and weapon crimes while placing his female companion in the local deflection program this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to perform a welfare check on a man and woman in the WinCo Foods parking lot on Tuesday night. Police said 35-year-old Matthew Moats and 20-year-old Alexandria Millwood were reported to be slumped over in a Toyota Camry near the supermarket exit with drug paraphernalia in plain view. Upon contact, Moats told officers the drug in use was methamphetamine and he was found to be in possession of a knife with a centrifugal-force blade during a consent search. He was confirmed to be a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing drugs or weapons. Both were seized as evidence. Moats was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon and Meth Possession. He was being held without bail. Millwood was offered the deflection program instead of jail and she accepted. The car keys and two dogs in the vehicle were left with her.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for his erratic behavior in a northwest neighborhood this week. According to the Police Department, officers placed 44-year-old Nicholas John Knox Knowles into custody in the 700-block of NW 2nd Street on Tuesday afternoon. Police said they contacted Knowles after two citizens advised they were alarmed when they observed him removing his clothing, yelling to himself and entering people's yards. Knowles was contacted on the back patio of a residence where he had his shirt off and was holding an empty beer can. His corrections officer was contacted and he requested his client be placed on a detainer. Knowles was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held without bail. Jail records show Knowles has been arrested for violating his parole nine times since June of last year.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Cave Junction man on outstanding warrants during a Redwood Highway traffic stop in Selma this week. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a BMW 525 driven by 21-year-old Austin Lee McClanahan near milepost 19 of US Highway 199 late Tuesday afternoon. Troopers said they stopped McClanahan for a traffic violation and discovered that he was wanted on two local warrants for failing to appear in court for Attempt to Elude Police, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Suspended Driving. McClanahan was transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail on the warrants. He was being held on $35,000 bail and his BMW was impounded.

 

The Rogue River City Council will look to solidify local public safety during its monthly meeting this evening. Following Committee Reports and Public Input, the City Council will receive a presentation from the Pacific Power Foundation for support for the Rogue River Police Vehicle Automatic External Defibrillator Initiative. Under New Business, the Council will consider one ordinance adopting changes to the City's open burning restrictions and another ordinance adopting changes to the City's public safety fee code section. Also on the agenda is a resolution approving an increase in the Rogue River Public Safety Fee. In other business, the city panel is expected to confirm Mayor Pam VanArsdale's appointment of Ed Hudson to the Planning Commission until the first meeting of 2027. Tonight's meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Rogue River City Hall, 133 Broadway Street.

 

Most people think of April 15th as Tax Deadline Day, the day when federal and state personal income tax returns must be filed. But for disabled and senior homeowners struggling to pay their property taxes, April 15th provides another deadline and an opportunity to take part in a program that could help them stay in their homes. April 15th is the deadline to apply for the Oregon Property Tax Deferral for Disabled and Senior Homeowners Program. The program helps disabled and senior homeowners stay in their homes by paying their property taxes for them subject to a lien that is repaid with 6% interest after the deferral ends. This is not a tax exemption -- the program is paying the current year taxes to local governments. If a qualified homeowner with a site-built home had prior property taxes outstanding, they can request a delay of tax foreclosure from the county. In 2024, the program paid more than $11.5 million in property taxes for 3,382 seniors and 419 disabled homeowners. Participants must be at least 62 years old or disabled and eligible to receive federal Social Security Disability benefits, and they must have owned and lived in their home for five years. To obtain an application form or for more information, please visit the Oregon Department of Revenue website at "oregon.gov/dor/deferral."