Local News

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies apprehended a man following a standoff in the 1900 block of Thompson Creek Road.

The suspect, identified as Lester Monk, was refusing to leave the premises during an eviction action by deputies Thursday morning. Law enforcement communicated with Monk to come out, and soon deployed less lethal munitions.

He was detained around 11:22 a.m. and taken into custody. Deputies cleared trailers while on the scene, trespassing Monk and four others from the property.

Deputies transported Monk to the Josephine County Jail for a Medford Police Department warrant for Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine. He was then transported to and lodged in the Jackson County Jail for charges including the Unlawful Manufacture and Possession of Meth, Felon in Possession of a Fire Arm, and Altering or Obliterating Firearm Identification Numbers.

 

Dispatch was alerted to a man trespassing on someone's property, leading to the suspect's arrest by Grants Pass Police.

A call to 911 around 11:41 a.m. reported there was a suspicious person prowling around the yard of a home in the 200 block of NE School Street. The caller told dispatch the man was walking towards the front door and looking in windows of both the incident location and the neighbor's house.

It was requested the man, wearing a green t-shirt, blue jeans, and a blanket, be trespassed from the property. Officers arrived, checked the area, and soon contacted Matthew Barnett. His parole officer was contacted, who then placed a detainer on him after learning of the incident, and finding out Barnett failed to show up for work crew.

Officers took Barnett into custody. He was transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail, and trespassed from the property.

 

Oregon Department of Transportation crews will be making minor pavement repairs on Interstate 5 next week in Medford and Central Point.

According to ODOT, work will occur between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. to reduce impacts on travelers.

Crews will be working in the northbound and southbound lanes of I-5 near Exit 35, north of Central Point beginning Sunday evening, April 19th. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions. The northbound on-ramp from Blackwell Road to OR 140 will be closed. Drivers wishing to enter I-5 should use an alternate route to Exit 33 or Exit 40.

Work is expected to be completed by Tuesday morning, and later that evening, crews will begin work in the northbound lanes of I-5 near Exit 27 in Medford. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane. The northbound off-ramp at Exit 27 will be closed. Work is expected to be completed by Thursday morning.

Drivers should watch for workers, equipment and vehicles in the roadway. Reduce speed through the work zone and expect short delays. The work schedule is subject to change for inclement weather.

 

A woman wanted on a warrant with multiple charges was taken into custody by Grants Pass Police Thursday.

An officer recognized Marissa Winters at the corner of NE 7th Street and NE Evelyn Avenue around 1:51 p.m. She was known to have a felony warrant out for her arrest from the Police Department, and was cooperative while being taken into custody in the parking lot across from 7th and Mead Streets.

Winter's warrant charged her with Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, Resisting Arrest, two counts of Aggravated Harassment, and Assaulting a Public Safety Officer.

She was positively identified by law enforcement, then promptly transported to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged on her warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man with a weapon offense warrant out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.

The suspect, Brian Stack, was located at Resting Site 6 South Thursday at 1:07 p.m. Officers contacted Stack at the 704 NW 6th Street site, where he was then taken into custody for his warrant.

Stack was charged with a Parole Violation for a Weapon Offense, and he was transported to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility where he was subsequently lodged.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested two suspects from Resting Site 7 Thursday in separate incidents.

Law enforcement arrived at the 712 NE 7th Street location around 1:54 p.m. Michelle Richardson was contacted and taken into custody for a Second Degree Trespass charge. She was issued a 90 day exclusion, and transported to the Josephine County Jail.

Two men on site were also contacted and trespassed from the resting site for 30 days. Both were cited for exceeding footprint and scattering rubbish, with one of the men being issued an additional citation for exceeding stay.

Officers returned to the resting site that evening at 6:31 and contacted Lori Signs. It was found she was wanted on an active warrant from the Grants Pass Police Department charging her with Possession of Methamphetamine.

Signs had also been previously trespassed from the site for 90 days, so an additional charge of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree was added. Law enforcement transported Signs to jail where she was lodged.

 

Grants Pass Police lodged a man in the Josephine County Jail on two Methamphetamine Possession warrants.

Officers recognized the suspect, Dakota Ree, as he was walking on A Street Thursday afternoon around 12:42. He attempted to cut through the Grants Pass High School property in order to avoid contact, but officers quickly detained him.

Ree was known to be wanted on two Grants Pass Police Department warrants charging him with Possession of Meth. Law enforcement took him into custody after a positive identification, and transported him to the Adult Jail Facility.

Officers lodged Ree on his two warrants. He was also trespassed from both the 830 NE 9th Street school, and Fred Meyer at 1101 Grants Pass Parkway per a previous case.

 

City Council moved to postpone a decision to award a non-bargaining salary and compensation study proposal.

During Wednesday's meeting, proposals had been received following a request to conduct a comprehensive salary and compensation study for all non-bargaining employee classifications.

A motion to get references and examples of work, and to postpone the award to a later date passed 6-1, with Councilor Indra Nicholas abstaining.

The council was unanimous in a motion to readopt the city's Investment Policy, and approved a request from the Chamber of Commerce to allow commercial activity and grant a waiver of Riverside Park reservation fees for Concerts in the Park.

A motion to retain at least $3 million in local banks from the form of certificates of deposit passed 7-0, while a motion to keep the Government Portfolio Advisors Corporate Approved List as is passed 6-1 with Nicholas dissenting.

Council adopted and approved all consent agenda items including a resolution authorizing City Manager Aaron Cubic to execute Amendment #1 to an intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation for the 6th and 7th Street Multimodal Corridor Study.

Before adjourning at 8:18 p.m., council approved a motion to reconsider entering into an agreement with the Josephine County Visitors Association including the addition of Downtown Welcome Center operations.

 

The Pacific Power Foundation is recognizing organizations throughout Oregon, Washington, and California for their commitment to the safety and wellness of their communities by awarding 115 grants totaling $344,002.

According to Pacific Power, the grants will support a variety of programs, including those that provide meals for individuals experiencing food insecurity, offer shelter for the unhoused and facilitate healthcare for underserved communities.

The Pacific Power Foundation’s Safety and Wellness grant cycle is one of four cycles throughout the year. In Josephine County, Crossing Bridges Therapeutic Riding Center and Siskiyou Community Health Center will receive grants.

The foundation is also providing grants to Butte Falls Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Cascade Girl, and La Clinica in Jackson County.

Director of the Pacific Power Foundation and president of Pacific Power, Ryan Flynn, emphasized these organization's vital roles in their respective regions, providing for the needs of individuals and families.