Local News

Grants Pass Police evicted two campers out of a city park early yesterday after finding them to be in possession of narcotics. Officers were performing a patrol check at Tussing Park on Thursday morning when they spotted a man and woman with fentanyl in plain view. Both were cited to appear in court for Possession of a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance and trespassed from the park for 30 days. The fentanyl and associated drug paraphernalia were seized for destruction.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for allegedly stealing a vehicle out of Jackson County between South Medford and Phoenix. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 32-year-old female subject at a home in the 1500-block of NW Lawnridge Avenue late Wednesday afternoon. Police said the Jackson County Sheriff's Office used a remote locator to ping a stolen vehicle in northwest Grants Pass. The vehicle is a white BMW 740I. Officers responded to the Lawnridge Avenue residence and contacted the resident who advised the vehicle belonged to a friend. The friend came out of the house to speak with officers and she admitted to stealing the vehicle. She was found to be in possession of the stolen car's key fob. There was also a large scratch along the passenger side of the car and the suspect admitted to striking a guard rail. Damage was estimated to be well over $1,000. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested five people for warrant and corrections violations during city park patrol checks in just one day this week. At Fruitdale Park on Wednesday, officers contacted a 64-year-old man for ordinance violations and discovered that he was wanted on three Grants Pass misdemeanor warrants. He was cited to appear in court and released. At Riverside Park, police contacted a 19-year-old woman for ordinance violations and contacted her corrections officer. The officer wanted her arrested for Probation Violation and she was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. At Kesterson Park, officers observed a 43-year-old man they knew from previous contacts. He was lodged in jail on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Larceny. He was being held on $35,000 bail. Also at Kesterson Park, officers contacted a 53-year-old man for an ordinance violation and discovered that he was wanted on a Douglas County warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft. He was cited and released. At Lawnridge Park, officers contacted a a 46-year-old woman for Illegal Camping. Her corrections officer was contacted and directed them to place her into custody. She was lodged without bail for Criminal Trespass and Felony Parole Violation.

 

The Medford Fire Department knocked down a fire at an apartment complex late yesterday. On Thursday around 4 p.m., Medford crews responded to a reported structure fire in the 700-block of Crater Lake Avenue. Arriving units found two apartments involved with flames. The fire was knocked down and there were no reported injuries. Medford fire officials said investigators were working to determine the origin and cause of the blaze. Units were on scene for an extended period of time working on overhaul and assisting investigators. Officials thanked their partners at the Medford Police Department for assisting with evacuations of the apartment complex and securing the area.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department is reminding motorists to pull over for their safety. First responders are routinely called to emergencies along busy roadways. Rural Metro officials said firefighters, law enforcement, ambulance, public works, tow trucks and various other roadside workers contend with not only the hazards of an incident, but also passing vehicles. Speed and distraction greatly increase the chances of a secondary incident. Smoke crossing the road doesn't help, either. Motorists are encouraged to scan ahead, watch for flashing lights and slowing traffic, and reduce speed and move over whenever possible. Please give roadside workers the safe zone they need to do their jobs.

 

US Senator Ron Wyden announced he will hold four town hall meetings in southwest Oregon at the end of this month. Town halls in Josephine, Curry, Coos and Douglas counties initially scheduled in April were postponed due to Senate votes in Washington DC. Wyden will hold the first town hall in Josephine County on Tuesday, May 28th. It's set for 12:45 p.m. in the South Middle School gymnasium at 350 Harbeck Road in Grants Pass. The senator from Oregon will also hold a town hall in Curry County at 5:30 p.m. on May 28th, with meetings slated for May 29th in Coos and Douglas counties. Heading into these four town halls, Wyden has held a total of 1,081 meetings throughout Oregon -- including 16 this year -- in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall every year in each of the state's 36 counties. Wyden said he's glad to be able to reschedule these town halls so quickly because it's crucial that all Oregonians get the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and offer suggestions.

 

Communities that have limited resources and face high risk from wildfire are getting additional support from the US Forest Service. In an announcement made this week, Oregon will receive more than $24 million and Washington will receive more than $26.6 million in Community Wildfire Defense grant awards. These grants are part of more than $250 million being invested in 158 projects across 31 states, two territories and 11 tribes. A total of 22 projects were funded across Oregon and Washington. In Southern Oregon, the funded proposals include $250,000 to the Josephine County Emergency Management Director, $191,700 to the City of Grants Pass and $249,959 to the Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council. Funding from the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program is designed to assist communities with planning for and mitigating wildfire risks, and for critical infrastructure to help confront the nation's wildfire crisis. The funding supports developing or revising Community Wildfire Protection Plans as well as completing projects that are identified in these plans. The program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and includes $1 billion to reduce wildfire risk over five years.

 

The US Forest Service has announced that Bear Camp Road is now open for public use. Road crews from the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Umpqua National Forest have removed all snow drifts from Bear Camp Road. In coordination with the Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management, the mountain road is now open for public use during the summer recreation season. Next month, the Josephine County Public Works Department will be chip-sealing Bear Camp Road from Burnt Ridge Road east to the junction with the BLM road. Crews plan on working the week of June 24th on chip-sealing operations. There will be traffic delays of up to 20 minutes during the construction work. This is the final phase of a project funded by the Great American Outdoors Act. Bear Camp Road is roughly 37 miles long. The east side starts at the county road near Galice and the road ends at the Agness Road/Forest Service Road junction. The first 12.3 miles of the road is managed by the Medford District BLM. There are gates that close the lower section of the road near the Galice Slide. They will be reopened when the road becomes passable.

 

The City of Grants Pass has announced 10 winners in the 2024 Drinking Water Week Poster Contest. For more than 40 years, Grants Pass and the American Water Works Association have celebrated Drinking Water Week. As part of the annual celebration, the City created a Drinking Water Week Poster Contest. This year, more than 20 local students submitted original artwork focused on the theme "Reimagine Our Water Future." The artwork was submitted in three categories: grades K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. Entries were judged based on creativity, originality and relevance to the theme. In the K-2 division, 1st place and $75 went to Zoey Jenkins, 2nd place and $50 went to Charlotte Brownell and third place and $25 went to Sierra Parker. In the 3-5 division, Olivia Christian grabbed first place while Silas Oldham placed second and there was a tied for third between Mya Mears and Olivia Ryther. In the 6-8 division, first place went to Haley Horst, second place went to Parker Cease and third place went to Ezra Hulet.