Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man this week for causing a traffic disruption on the Parkway. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident involving the 47-year-old male subject on Tuesday night. Police said the man had generated several service calls due to his intentional acts of running across a public highway while obstructing vehicular traffic. At least one of the callers reported the subject was displaying violent behavior by screaming at passing vehicles. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Officers arrived on scene, contacted the suspect and placed him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and he was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted a total of 11 campers from city parks during routine patrol checks on Wednesday. At Fruitdale Park, one man was cited for Scattering Rubbish while another man was cited for Scattering Rubbish and parking his motorcycle on the grass. The second man was trespassed from the park for 30 days. Twelve campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Morrison Centennial Park, a man and woman were both cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Scattering Rubbish. Both were issued 30-day park exclusions. Nine campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Baker Park, a man was cited for Scattering Rubbish and trespassed for 30 days. Thirteen campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Riverside Park, a man and woman were both cited for Misuse of Open Space and Scattering Rubbish. They were issued 30-day park exclusions. A total of 15 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Tussing Park, a man was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and trespassed for 30 days. Twelve campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Lawnridge Park, a man and woman were both cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Misuse of Open Space. Both were issued 30-day exclusions. Six campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Kesterson Park, a man and woman were both cited for Misuse of Open Space and trespassed for 30 days. One campsite was posted for Illegal Camping.

 

Doe deer are very protective of their fawns and can be aggressive toward nearby people and pets. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has received recent reports of does attacking dogs in Josephine and Jackson counties. In most of these reports, people walking their dogs did not avoid close contact with does. ODFW encourages people to keep away from female deer this summer and keep dogs leashed and under control. ODFW Wildlife Biologist Chris Shelton said does give birth through July in this area so it's best to do this throughout the summer as people have gotten hurt and smaller dogs have been killed by does in the past. Shelton said does and bucks can also become aggressive any time of year when they are being fed. Stay alert, especially at dawn and dusk. Be aware of your surroundings and areas where deer may be. Report any aggressive deer behavior to ODFW's Central Point office at (541)-857-2405.

 

US Senator Ron Wyden has joined his colleagues in calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure federal investment for small businesses in rural Oregon and nationwide through the Rural Development Grant Program. The senators wrote: "Since launching in 2015, Rural Business Development Grant Program (RBDG) funding has provided support for planning, technical assistance, job training and other business development needs in rural areas of all 50 states." They added: "Small businesses provide the majority of jobs in rural communities, yet often have less access to credit and capital when compared to urban areas." The senators requested $37 million for the RBDG. This program specifically supports the development and growth of rural small and emerging businesses with fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues. The senators concluded: "Investing in our rural businesses ensures that communities in every corner of the country can continue to thrive and cultivate a strong local economy."

 

UPDATE: MAKENA BESSETTE WAS LOCATED BY THE EUGENE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND RETURNED TO HER MOTHER.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking public assistance in locating a missing girl from Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports 12-year-old Makena Bessette was last seen at her residence on East Jones Creek Road. Her mother returned home and found that she had packed a bag of belongings and left some time that afternoon. Bessette did not give any indication she was leaving or where she may have gone. She has friends in the Eugene area and her mother believes she may have tried to hitchhike there. There was a confirmed sighting of the girl in Eugene on Wednesday, and the Sheriff's Office has since received information that she could be traveling to California with another female and male. Bessette is described as a white female, 5-feet-3-inches tall and 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Makena Bessette is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

 

The Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) raided an illegal black market cannabis grow at an old schoolhouse near Shady Cove this week. IMET detectives served a search warrant at the grow site in the 20,400-block of Sawyer Road on Tuesday. The property was once the site of a school, but it was modified to grow marijuana. During execution of the warrant, IMET seized 1,108 illegal marijuana plants, 3.5 grams of cocaine, four firearms and $1,600 in cash. There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling or processing at this location. Jackson County Code Enforcement responded to the scene and issued citations totaling $13,000 for violations related to unpermitted construction, failure to obtain approval for marijuana production and camping vehicles used as dwellings. IMET was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police and Medford Police Department. No arrests were made, but the investigation is ongoing with detectives working additional leads.

 

A Grants Pass woman was seriously injured this week when she was struck by two vehicles on Rogue River Highway near Morrison Centennial Park. Grants Pass Police and emergency personnel were dispatched to the vehicle versus pedestrian accident in the 1,000-block of Highway 99 late Tuesday night. Police said the female victim unlawfully entered the south side of the highway and ran across the travel lanes where she was struck by one vehicle and then grazed by a second vehicle while she was down. They said she was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center where the trauma system was activated. An investigation determined the woman was at fault and she was issued a citation for Pedestrian with Improper Position on a State Highway at the hospital. No word on her medical condition today. One of the drivers who struck the woman was cited for Driving While Suspended.

 

A large vehicle fire in the Illinois Valley this week prompted the response of three local agencies. Late Tuesday night, the Illinois Valley Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry and Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the fire at the Mine Trail Campfire Lookout which is located at a dead end off Oregon and West 6th streets in Cave Junction. IVFD officials said the vehicle fire jumped the road and spread into blackberries and nearby brush. They said the blaze was quickly extinguished and mopped up. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Due to the Wildland Up-Staffing Grant from the Oregon State Fire Marshal, officials said they are able to have more personnel on scene during fire season.

 

Former President Ronald Reagan once said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction." A special celebration of Independence Day will take place today on the steps of the Josephine County Courthouse in Grants Pass. The program is sponsored by the Josephine County Republican Party and the Josephine County Republican Women. It starts at 11 a.m.. There will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence followed by the singing of patriotic songs. An Independence Day meal will be served at noon at the GOP Headquarters across 6th Street from the Courthouse. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share.