Local News

Grants Pass firefighters knocked down a grass fire near the Parkway late last night. On Sunday at 11:34 p.m., Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a reported fire burning in grass and brush in the 1,000-block of NW F Street. Battalion Chief 4 arrived on scene to find the fire to be around 1/10th of an acre. Engine 7307 and Brush Truck BC4 from the Parkway Station were able to quickly pull a hose line to knock down the flames. Forward progress was stopped, with assistance from Engine 7308 and Brush Truck 7369 from the Redwood Station. There was no damage to structures or nearby infrastructure. GP Fire & Rescue was assisted by the Grants Pass Police Department. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

Draft versions of the statewide wildfire hazard and wildland-urban interface maps are now available for public review and comment on Oregon State University's Wildfire Risk Explorer website. The Oregon Department of Forestry said the wildfire hazard maps' purposes are to educate Oregon residents and property owners about the level of hazard where they live, assist in prioritizing fire adaptation and mitigation resources for the most vulnerable locations, and identify where defensible space standards and home hardening codes will apply. A series of open houses about the state's new community wildfire risk reduction programs were held from June 3rd to July 1st throughout Oregon. It was a chance to learn about wildfire hazard assessments, new defensible space and home hardening programs and standards, insurance concerns and state wildfire policy. At those meetings, early maps depicting wildfire hazards were available, but property tax-level maps were not yet available. Draft maps are now ready for Oregonians to see the hazard designation of their specific address and whether they're in the wildland-urban interface. The draft maps reflect recent revisions. Comments can be sent to "hazardmap@odf.oregon.gov."

 

The Grants Pass City Council will hold a special workshop this evening to discuss next steps after the US Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of criminalizing the camping of homeless people in public spaces. On June 28th, the nation's highest court reversed lower court rulings, finding that public camping restrictions issued by the City of Grants Pass do not constitute "cruel and unusual punishment." The landmark case arose when several homeless people filed suit in federal court against Grants Pass in 2018, alleging the city's aggressive enforcement of its public camping and sleeping ordinances were intended to banish them from town. Grants Pass officials said the Supreme Court ruling will help guide their next steps regarding unhoused members of the community. Tonight's workshop will focus on time, place and manner discussions aimed at dealing with homelessness in parks. The public is invited to attend or view the workshop discussion, which begins at 6 in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

Due to the ongoing heatwave and wildfire smoke settling into the Rogue Valley, the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) is opening its Emergency Cooling Shelter all this week. The Cooling Shelter near Bi-Mart will be open today-Friday from noon to 7 p.m.. MINT said it was working on getting volunteers to help keep it open the same hours next weekend with more to come. MINT officials said they're grateful to their volunteers who have stepped up to help make this possible. If you would like to contribute to this effort, contact their Mealtrain links to sign up to donate meals or snacks. They're also in need of men's clothing donations, which can be dropped off during their hours of operations. To bring dinner items, please visit "mealtrain.com/Omg7yv." To bring snacks and/or sandwich fixings, please visit "mealtrain.com/0mg74v."

 

The Grants Pass Police Department is investigating an apparent fatal shooting that occurred last night near an apartment complex on Rogue River Highway. Details are sketchy this morning as GPPD has not yet issued an official press release on the incident, but the agency sent out a bulletin on Friday at 9:57 p.m. that asked citizens to avoid the 1400-block of Rogue River Highway while they investigated a shooting. At 4:17 a.m. today, GPPD said the highway was open. Trusted sources said the 9-1-1 call came in at 9:20 p.m. and reported five male subjects were armed with rifles, with one man down in the complex parking lot and CPR in progress. The shooter then called 9-1-1 and told dispatchers he shot in self-defense. He was detained and the firearm was secured. The victim was confirmed deceased at 9:34 p.m.. Those same sources said there was an unknown amount of shots fired and there were no other victims. We are awaiting a GPPD press release to clarify details of the shooting.

 

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) arrested three people while raiding three illegal cannabis growing operations in the Illinois Valley this week. On Wednesday, JMET served a search warrant in the 800-block of Greenview Road in Cave Junction. The search warrant was served with assistance from the US Forest Service, Homeland Security Investigations and Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety. During execution of the warrant, more than 3,100 marijuana plants and around 2,000 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and destroyed. A large amount of cash and three firearms were also found and seized. The property had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations that may result in forfeiture. According to JMET, 48-year-old Julio Rodriguez-Cardinas and 28-year-old Alvaro Rodriguez-De La Paz were arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Manufacture and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. On Thursday, JMET served a search warrant in the 300-block of Clear Creek Road in Selma. The warrant was served with assistance from Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety. During execution of the warrant, more than 1,400 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. A large amount of cash and two firearms were also found and seized. The property had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations that may result in criminal forfeiture. According to JMET, 51-year-old Rainy Jeanne Gauvain was arrested and lodged in jail for Unlawful Manufacture and Possession of Marijuana. While investigators were on scene, they discovered another illegal cannabis grow site on nearby Pine Tree Way.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for lighting a trash container on fire and damaging a commercial building in the northeast part of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 47-year-old male subject for the incident in the 1500-block of NE 6th Street on Friday at 3:25 a.m.. Police said a man they identified as "Brandon Wayne Newton" intentionally set fire to a plastic trash bin and caused damage to the side of commercial business structure in excess of $500. According to the report, officers located Newton walking in the area and he admitted to throwing an ignited match into the trash bin after lighting a cigarette. Newton was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Burning and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.

 

Firefighters mounted an aggressive attack to halt the forward progress of a small fire northwest of Wilderville yesterday. The Oregon Department of Forestry and Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a reported fire north of Dutcher Creek Road late Friday morning. Arriving units found a blaze in the same general area where two other fires were recently found. ODF and Rural Metro crews engaged the fire in an aggressive initial attack that included Type 1 and Type 2 helicopters as well as an air tanker. By 12:30 p.m., crews had the fire wet-lined, which means they used water to spray down the fire's edge, temporarily stopping the spread. They continued to dig a permanent line and began mopping up. Aircraft conducted water drops until the blaze was stopped. By 12:50 p.m., firefighters had hose around the fire and stopped the progression at an estimated half-acre. Mop-up continued throughout the afternoon. No structures were threatened and no injuries were reported. ODF said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

The Oregon Department of Transportation has announced a construction project that will require a two-day road closure in south Grants Pass next month. ODOT reports a bridge girder repair will take place over the 7th Street off-ramp from Redwood Highway. The girder was recently damaged by an over-height load. On Sunday night, August 11th, the Redwood Highway exit ramp will be closed for four hours starting at 6 p.m.. On Thursday night, August 15th, the ramp will be closed for approximately three hours. The 7th Street off-ramp closures will occur after the Josephine County Fair. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes during the closures.