Local News

Deputies Nabbed Man on Weapon Charges after Williams Highway Stop in GP
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on weapons charges after a traffic stop on Williams Highway in south Grants Pass late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Justin Lewin in the 1300-block of Highway 238 on Wednesday at 4:38 p.m.. 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.
Posted on 2/6/25 10:45AM by Sam Marsh
 

OSP Arrested Salem Man on Local Warrant after Traffic Stop Just North of GP
The Oregon State Police arrested a Salem man on an outstanding warrant late last night after a traffic stop just north of Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Chevrolet C-15 pickup driven by 43-year-old Charles E. Nelson on Highland Avenue near Sunflower Lane on Wednesday right before midnight. Troopers said they stopped Nelson for a traffic violation and quickly discovered that he was wanted on a local warrant for an unspecified criminal allegation. He was cited to appear in court and then released. According to OSP, Nelson's passengers were a 55-year-old Grants Pass man and a 34-year-old Wolf Creek woman. They were briefly detained, but also released.
Posted on 2/6/25 10:44AM by Sam Marsh
 

OSP Cited GP Motorist after Early AM Crash into Rogue River Highway Fence
The Oregon State Police cited a Grants Pass motorist early today 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 at 12:23 this morning. 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.
Posted on 2/6/25 10:42AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Motorist Escaped Injury after Wrecking Vehicle on Highway 199 near Selma
A Grants Pass motorist escaped injury late yesterday when he wrecked his vehicle on Redwood Highway near Selma. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle crash near milepost 22 of US Highway 199 on Wednesday shortly after 5 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicates the 56-year-old man was driving a Nissan Frontier when he lost control due the wintry road conditions and crashed into an embankment. Fortunately, the man was not injured. According to OSP, Jerry's Towing happened to be in the area and was able to tow the vehicle from the scene at the owner's request. OSP was assisted by the Illinois Valley Fire District.
Posted on 2/6/25 10:40AM by Sam Marsh
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Public Comments Dominated Josephine County Board of Commissioners Meeting
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners had no public hearings or action items on its agenda for Wednesday's business session. The 22-minute meeting started with an invocation by Chad Hanson, a pastor with Edgewater Christian Fellowship, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The session was dominated by public comments including one man who opposed the religious invocation based on his belief of separation of church and state, and because he feels it discriminates against those who are not Christians. Other citizen comments involved opposition to the recent firing of Board Secretary Wendy Watkins and opposition to a Grants Pass couple who are once again trying to be removed from the Josephine Community Library District. Right-wing activist Mike Pelfrey and his wife are the couple attempting to be removed from the library district. He had commentary on the recent injunction placed on the City of Grants Pass for restricting homeless camping, saying that the injunction was approved by "a left-leaning liberal judge." Former Commissioner John West testified that he is concerned that the Board is considering the transfer of $200,000 from the Forestry Department to the Juvenile Justice Department. He said it could lead to the liquidation of County Forestry. Board Chair Andreas Blech said he would review the Charter based on West's comment, Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett praised Public Works crews for working to keep rural roads clear of snow and Commissioner Ron Smith said he stands firm against the Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map, adding that he was amazed by the huge crowd that gathered for last week's meeting on Senate Bill 762.
Posted on 2/6/25 6:45AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Woman for Assaulting Fellow Tenant at Downtown Rental Unit
Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for assaulting a fellow tenant at a rental unit in the downtown area The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident in the 400-block of SW I Street on Tuesday night. It allegedly occurred on Monday night. Police said a woman advised she recently moved into the residence on February 1st and is in a landlord-tenant arrangement with the property owner. The landlord has two separate living quarters in her backyard and her daughter lives in one of them. The daughter -- 40-year-old Hannah Rachael Rose Staicoff -- was allowed to enter the other woman's quarters to retrieve stored items. But on Monday night, Staicoff entered the other quarters while intoxicated and yelling, attempted to pull the other woman off her bed and physically attacked her by placing her hands around the woman's neck. According to the report, the victim sustained scratching, bruising and redness where Staicoff reportedly bit her. The victim sought treatment for her injuries at Three Rivers Medical Center. They were photographed by responding officers. Staicoff was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Assault and Strangulation. She was being held without bail.
Posted on 2/6/25 6:44AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Felon for Violating Probation by Stealing from Home Depot
Grants Pass Police jailed a local felon for violating his probation by trying to steal merchandise from Home Depot this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Mill Street on Tuesday afternoon. Police said 51-year-old Robert David Smith passed all points of sale with more than $385 worth of Home Depot merchandise before he was stopped by loss prevention just outside the store. They took the suspect to the loss prevention office where he refused to identify himself and was uncooperative. Upon arrival, police identified Smith' and contacted his corrections officer. She instructed them to place her client on a no-bail detainer. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and the resulting Probation Violation. Smith was also trespassed from Home Depot which retained the stolen items.
Posted on 2/6/25 6:43AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Cited Two after Vehicle Collided with Moped in the Downtown Area
Grants Pass Police cited two people after a vehicle collided with a moped in the downtown area this week. The Police Department reports officers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle crash at the corner of SE 9th and G streets around midday Tuesday. Police said the driver of a Suzuki sedan made a dangerous left turn that caused the moped rider to collide with the front fender of the vehicle. The moped rider flew over the hood of the Suzuki and landed on the ground. The moped rider was badly injured and transported to a local hospital where the trauma system was activated. Following an investigation, the Suzuki driver was cited for Dangerous Left Turn while the moped rider was cited for Driving While Suspended and Failure to Register Vehicle. GPPD did not identify either person. The damaged moped was logged into evidence for safekeeping.
Posted on 2/6/25 6:41AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Cited Teen Driver and Warned Her Mother after Cave Junction Stop
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office cited a young motorist and warned her mother this week following a traffic stop in downtown Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a 2006 Toyota Sienna driven by a teenage girl in the 300-block of South Redwood Highway on Tuesday afternoon. Deputies said they stopped the vehicle for running a red light and discovered that the young driver had no license. She was cited for No Operator's License. The girl's mother was warned that if she continued to allow her daughter to drive without a license, she could possibly be arrested for Child Neglect or Reckless Endangering. The Toyota was parked and secured in a store parking lot and the mother was advised to find a licensed driver to retrieve it.
Posted on 2/6/25 6:40AM by Sam Marsh
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Pacific Power Crews Restored 97% of Impacted Customers in Oregon and California
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Pacific Power crews have made significant progress responding to widespread storm-related outages across Southern Oregon and Northern California. Heavy snow accumulation has resulted in hazardous conditions, impacting repair and restoration times -- but repair crews have successfully restored electricity to thousands of customers. As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, 97% of customers who experienced outages due to the winter weather had been restored. Those customers still without power in the Grants Pass, Medford and Klamath Falls areas should have service restored by this evening. More than 300 field crews and other personnel are involved in the restoration efforts, working around the clock to make repairs. In the Grants Pass, Medford and Klamath Falls districts, field crews are responding to more than 200 spans of downed power lines as well as broken poles and other damaged electric equipment. The National Weather Service has extended a Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisory for the region calling for more low-elevation snow until Friday morning so more power outages are possible. Pacific Power encourages customers to report outages by calling 1-(877)-508-5088 or text OUT to 722797. Text STAT to 722797 to check on the status of outages.
Posted on 2/6/25 6:31AM by Sam Marsh
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GP City Council Delayed Decision on Zoning and Denied the Hiring of New City Attorney
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The Grants Pass City Council on Wednesday night considered amendments to zoning, system development charges, special event fees and the hiring of a new City Attorney. No action was taken on two amendments that would allow 18 tax lots to opt for the zoning transition overlay, which allows only for high-density housing. The Council then approved an ordinance amending system development charges to add RV spaces to its sewer system methodology. Councilors then approved a resolution creating a fee schedule for city-managed special events including the 4th of July, Art along the Rogue and the Christmas Tree Lighting. The vendor fee for the 4th of July and the Tree Lighting is $60 and $120 for Art Along the Rogue because it is a multi-day event. Food truck fees are now $250. In a split vote, the City Council denied the hiring of Stephanie Nuttall as City Attorney. She currently serves as Assistant Legal Counsel for Josephine County. The Council convened as the Urban Renewal Agency and approved City Manager Aaron Cubic as the Budget Officer.
Posted on 2/6/25 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
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Country Artists Atkins and LeDoux will Perform at 2025 Josephine County Fair
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The Josephine County Fair Board has announced that country artists Rodney Atkins and Ned LeDoux will be performing at the Josephine County Fair this summer. Both Atkins and LeDoux are scheduled to perform at the Fairgrounds Grandstand on Thursday, July 31st. This year's county fair runs July 30th-August 3rd. Atkins has entertained thousands of fans with one his many mega-hits such as "These are My People," "Farmer's Daughter" and "Watching You." LeDoux is the son of the late country music legend Chris LeDoux. Singer and songwriter Ned has been releasing solo music since 2017, but he has been a touring musician since his teenage years. His first full-length album in 2017 featured "Forever a Cowboy" which became an instant classic. His most recent album is titled "Buckskin," featuring the single "Safe Haven." Tickets are available online now at "josephinecountyfairgrounds.com."
Posted on 2/6/25 6:20AM by Sam Marsh
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