Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a gas station attendant for stealing the wallet of a customer last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the Fred Meyer gas station on the Grants Pass Parkway on Sunday at about 5:30 p.m.. About an hour earlier, police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that she dropped her wallet while getting fuel at the station. Surveillance video showed an employee take the wallet and conceal it in his work vest. The worker never reported the found wallet to his manager prior to leaving for the day. Officers contacted the man at his residence and he was found to be in possession of the wallet. He denied stealing the wallet and claimed that he forgot he had it. The wallet was seized and the suspect was cited to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft. The victim picked up her wallet at the police station later that evening.

 

Grants Pass firefighters extinguished an illegal open burn near a city park last night. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to the fire on the Texas property in the 900-block of East Park Street adjacent to Baker Park on Monday at 9:30 p.m.. Grants Pass Battalion Chief 4 found a small vegetation fire and the alarm was sounded for a grass fire, which brought two engines and a brush truck to the scene. Crews were on scene for just over an hour lining the fire and mopping it up at a final size of 1/10th of an acre. The cause of the fire was under investigation, but it is presumed to be human-caused. No arrests were made and the investigation is ongoing. Due to the recent extreme heat and low humidity, local vegetation is extremely flammable. Fire officials urge everyone in the community to exercise caution with any fire and refrain from reckless burning. All open fires are prohibited.

 

Firefighters were successful in containing a burning vehicle in the Merlin area last night. On Monday at 7:53 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department was alerted to the vehicle fire on South Pass Road. Rural Metro officials said crews were able to put out the fire and keep it from spreading into nearby vegetation. They said heat from the burning vehicle melted an unoccupied portable toilet. Officials said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The owner told them it had been parked there since early that morning. The incident occurred at the exact same location as a fire that leveled a home and several vehicles one year ago.

 

Firefighters working the Salt Creek Fire near Eagle Point were able to hold it largely within its footprint on Monday, despite another day of triple-digit heat and windy conditions. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports the wildfire was still estimated to be around 1,500 acres last night. An overnight infrared flight was ordered and it will likely be able to give a more accurate size of the fire later this morning. A few spot fires were found on the eastern portion of the incident and flames began to cross a line on the southern border, but resources caught each of these issues and were able to halt any further spread. Fire activity began to pick up at the change of shift at 6 p.m. and a column of smoke once again stood up. Despite challenges on the line yesterday, progress was made and the fire is now an estimated 60% lined. Mop-up efforts have begun on the west side of the blaze and are about 5% complete. There were 290 personnel assigned to the wildfire last night including eight 20-person hand crews backed by 14 engines, nine bulldozers, seven water tenders and five task force leaders. ODF Incident Management Team 1 has taken command of the Salt Creek Fire, which is relieving local agencies so they can respond to any new local fire starts.

 

The Oregon State Police assisted the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with a weekend disturbance involving firearms at the Galice Resort. OSP reports troopers and deputies responded to the incident at the resort in the 11,700-block of Galice Road on Saturday night. Troopers said it was reported that at least three individuals with firearms were pointing them at approximately 15 people who were unable to escape. They said no one was hurt in the altercation and there was no information disclosed about why the incident occurred. According to OSP, four individuals were arrested for the incident. They were identified as 44-year-old Peter Anthony Rivera, 60-year-old Anthony Brent Clymens, 38-year-old Samantha Rae Kenny and 36-year-old Brian P. Stack. Rivera was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Weapon, 4th-Degree Assault, Furnishing False Information to Police and Parole Violation. Clymens was lodged in jail for Felon in Possession of a Weapon. Kenny was jailed for Menacing while Stack was jailed for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Menacing. All four suspects were being held without bail as the investigation continues.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for breaking into an equipment rental business and stealing gasoline last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the break-in at Grants Pass Equipment Rentals in the 200-block of Rogue River Highway early Sunday morning. Police said the incident was captured on surveillance video and called in by the business owner. They said a 29-year-old male subject entered the property by jumping over the secure fence. He entered the location with a red fuel can and started siphoning fuel from heavy machinery at the business. The business owner arrived on scene and spotted the subject walking away with the fuel can. He provided a description of the man and officers located him near Burger King where his vehicle was parked. When he was contacted, he was still in possession of the fuel can and reeked of fuel which was all over his clothing. The suspect was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked for Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, 3rd-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known criminal offender for lighting a fire in a downtown alley last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident in the alleyway behind the Twisted Cork in the 200-block of SW 6th Street on Sunday afternoon. Police said the 31-year-old female subject intentionally set fire to some cardboard in the alley, the cardboard became fully engulfed in flames next to a dumpster that was full of flammable trash that was next to a flammable utility pole. The outside temperature was well over 100 degrees and fire danger was extremely high. Officers searched the area and found the subject at a next door building and she was still holding a lighter in her hand. She was immediately placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Burning and she was being held without bail. Firefighters arrived to inspect the smoldering remains of the fire and made sure it was no longer a danger.

 

Due to the Excessive Heat Warning now in effect with triple-digit temperatures through Wednesday, the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce will not be hosting Concerts in the Park this evening. For the record, Grants Pass reached 109 degrees on Monday, but it did not break a high temperature record for July 8th. The record remains 110 degrees in 1903. While the cancellation was not a decision made lightly, the Chamber prioritizes the well-being, health and safety of Concerts in the Park attendees and the many dedicated people it takes to put on this great community event. The Chamber will be adding another concert date set for Tuesday, July 30th. Due to scheduling conflicts, Danielle Kelly will not be able to perform. New band information is coming soon. They apologize for any inconvenience and are very thankful for everyone's patience and understanding. They encourage our community to exercise caution during these extreme temperatures. The Chamber will see you at the Josephine County Fairgrounds Midway Park next week, July 16th, with Trevor Hanks & the Blackburn Rebels.

 

Due to dry vegetation, hot conditions and numerous active fires in the region, the Oregon Department of Forestry has raised local fire danger to its highest level. Starting today, the fire danger in Josephine and Jackson counties is "extreme" and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level remains at "2." This change in regulations impacts 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and BLM lands protected by ODF's Southwest District. Beginning today, many outdoor activities have become completely prohibited on ODF-protected lands. This includes the use of power saws; the cutting, grinding and welding of metal; the mowing of dry or dead grass; and the operation of any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine not specifically mentioned. The mowing of green lawns is permitted. Smoking remains prohibited while traveling except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and designated locations. All outdoor debris burning remains prohibited as do all open fires including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires except in approved fire rings at designated campgrounds. Motor vehicles may only be used on improved roads free of flammable vegetation except when used for commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops. Possession of firefighting equipment is required while traveling except on state highways, county roads and driveways. For more information about ODF Southwest's fire season restrictions, please visit "swofire.com."