Local News

With the April 15th tax deadline arriving Monday, the Internal Revenue Service is reminding millions of last-minute tax filers that the agency has a variety of free tools and resources available on "IRS.gov." From tax preparation, answers to tax law questions, refund tracking, to business topics and more, "IRS.gov" has everything needed for taxpayers to file on time or get an easy, automatic six-month extension to file. For taxpayers who needed an extension of time to file their taxes, there are several options to get an automatic extension through October 15th. Although an extension grants extra time to file, it does not extend the obligation to pay taxes due on April 15th. To avoid penalties and late fees, taxpayers who owe should pay either their full tax bill or at least what they can afford to pay by the Monday deadline. The IRS estimates 19 million taxpayers will file for an automatic extension. The agency has already received more than 100 million tax returns, with tens of millions more expected to be filed by 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

 

The Grants Pass City Council will convene a roundtable discussion related to public safety funding next week. Thursday's roundtable session will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street. During its April 1st workshop, a majority of the City Council wanted to hold a public safety funding conversation before deciding whether to proceed with the referral of a food & beverage tax to voters in the November general election. During the session, city staff will present an overview of public safety services provided by the police and fire departments along with the various funding options the Council has considered. This will be followed by questions and answers. City officials said this roundtable discussion is being treated as a normal Council workshop and does not provide an opportunity for public comment. A quorum of Council members may be present.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed two felons last night for breaking into the home of a deceased person in the Wilderville area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 30- and 28-year-old men for the incident at a home in the 11,400-block of Redwood Highway on Thursday shortly after 10 p.m.. Deputies said a neighbor called a family member of the deceased and reported that a bunch of people were inside the residence and stealing things after the two men kicked in a door. The caller advised that no one was supposed to be there except family members and a friend of the decedent who was granted permission to pick up some property. Upon arrival, deputies contacted the two suspects and placed them into custody. Both suspects were transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of 1st-Degree Burglary and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. Both were being held without bail. The 30-year-old man was found to be wanted on 2022 and 2023 warrants for crimes including Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Burglary, Theft and Driving While Suspended. The 28-year-old man was additionally charged with Felony Parole Violation stemming from a previous criminal conviction.

 

A domestic disturbance at a Grants Pass city park yesterday resulted in the arrest of a felon for violating his post-prison supervision. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers responded to the disturbance at Redwood Park on Dowell Road at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Police said a caller reported a man yelling at a woman inside a van in the parking lot. The caller advised the van was shaking and the woman was calling for help. Turns out the 28-year-old man was yelling at his mother, and he was prohibited from contacting her per his parole agreement and his corrections officer. Officers arrived on scene, determined that no one was hurt and then placed the man into custody. The suspect was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation. Jail records show the man has several criminal convictions on his record since May of last year.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a federal warrant yesterday while investigating a trespassing complaint at a church in Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 54-year-old man at Immanuel United Methodist Church on West Watkins Street on Thursday at 11:33 a.m.. Deputies were alerted to a vehicle that had been parked at the church for more than two hours with trash scattered all around it. Five people were contacted including the driver of the vehicle who was told to move it within one hour or it would be towed. A routine records check revealed that the driver was wanted on a US Marshals Service fugitive warrant for Probation Violation related to Failure to Register as a Convicted Sex Offender. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. The four other people were trespassed from the church for 30 days.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man who was wanted on two local felony warrants last night following a traffic stop in the New Hope area. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 33-year-old man near the intersection of New Hope Road and Florer Drive on Thursday around 8:35 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the Jeep after observing traffic violations and they immediately recognized the driver as a wanted man. He was wanted on two local felony warrants for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 2nd-Degree Burglary. After the warrants were confirmed, the suspect was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrants. His bail was set at $55,000.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for causing a strange disturbance at Walmart yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a woman speeding through the Walmart parking lot and honking her horn at 11:21 a.m. Thursday. Police said witnesses reported the 59-year-old woman was speeding, honking her horn and pointing a "finger gun" at people while shouting "bang, bang." They said several shoppers were victimized, and it was unknown why she was involved in the dangerous, strange and annoying behavior. Her actions caused public alarm. Responding officers halted the motorist, placed her into custody and lodged her in jail for Disorderly Conduct.

 

Grants Pass Police made at least two shoplifting arrests at local retailers yesterday. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred on Thursday at 1:46 p.m. when officers responded to a theft complaint at Grange Co-op on West Schutzwohl Lane near Redwood Highway. Police said a 30-year-old man concealed a pair of Georgia boots worth $209 by placing them on his feet and putting his old shoes into the boot box. They said he attempted to walk out of the store, but was detained by loss prevention. The man was cooperative and admitted to stealing the boots. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. The second incident happened on Thursday at about 6:30 p.m. at Southern Oregon Goodwill in the Grants Pass Shopping Center. Police said a 36-year-old woman concealed $50 worth of merchandise, passed all points of sale and left the store, but she was detained by loss prevention. She was cooperative, admitted to stealing the items and was lodged in jail for Petty Theft.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an out-of-state warrant, cited three people and trespassed them from city parks on Thursday. According to the Police Department, officers were patrolling Baker Park at 8:30 a.m. when they contacted a 41-year-old man and discovered that he was wanted on an Idaho warrant for failing to appear in court for Improper Use of 9-1-1. While being placed into custody, the man was found to be in possession of less than two grams of methamphetamine. He was lodged in jail on the outstanding warrant and for the narcotics violation. The meth was seized for destruction. Also at Riverside Park, a woman was cited for Misuse of Open Space and she was trespassed from the facility for 30 days. At Tussing Park, a man and woman were cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Scattering Rubbish. They were both issued 30-day exclusion orders.