Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for causing havoc in the southeast part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to multiple reports of bad behavior by the 47-year-old female subject along Rogue River Highway shortly before 4 a.m. on Wednesday. Police said the woman caused public alarm and inconvenience when she tipped over about a dozen trash cans and spread rubbish along the highway. They located the culprit by her loud screams and placed her into custody without incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Mischief and Offensive Littering. She was being held without bail. Officers took photos of the trash cans that were pushed over before returning them to their upright positions.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman for returning to a home in Merlin from which she and her husband had been evicted. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident at a residence in the 100-block of Peach Street in Merlin on Wednesday shortly after midnight. Deputies said a neighbor reported a man and woman were on the property after they had been legally evicted due to non-payment of rent on Monday. The caller advised both subjects were back in the yard with their car and personal belongings. A short time later, the 49-year-old female suspect called 9-1-1 to report someone had stolen all of their property. She told dispatchers that a lot of the items was stuff she had taken from a deceased neighbor. Meanwhile, the husband disappeared and was not located. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted three campers on Wednesday who failed to remove their illegal campsites after they had been posted in city parks. At Lawnridge Park, a man was cited for Nuisance Dog because his dog was off its leash. Six campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network (UCAN). At Westholm Park, a woman was cited for Illegal Camping after she failed to remove her previously posted campsite. She was trespassed for 30 days. Seven campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN. At Fruitdale Park, a man was cited for Illegal Camping after he failed to remove his previously posted campsite. He was issued a 30-day exclusion. Four campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN. At Riverside Park, a man was cited for Illegal Camping after he failed to remove his previously posted campsite. He was also trespassed for 30 days. A total of 14 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a motorist for causing a multi-vehicle crash that injured another motorist on Williams Highway near Murphy yesterday. According to OSP, troopers and emergency personnel responded to the three-vehicle collision near milepost 7 of Highway 238 on Wednesday at 3:14 p.m.. Troopers said a Dodge Ram pickup driven by a 61-year-old man rear-ended a Chevrolet Camaro that was stopped in the eastbound lane for a Dodge pickup stopped in front of it. The Ram rear-ended the Camaro, pushing it into the Dodge. The 47-year-old male driver of the Camaro injured his elbow in the crash, but it was unclear in the report whether he was transported to the hospital. No one else was hurt, but the Ram and Camaro were damaged and towed to Grants Pass. Following the investigation, troopers cited the Ram driver for Following Too Closely.

 

Grants Pass fire officials were investigating the cause of a dumpster fire that broke out on Rogue River Highway late yesterday. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was toned by the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center for a reported dumpster fire in the 1200-block of Highway 99 on Wednesday at 5:55 p.m.. Battalion 4 and Engine 7308 staffed with three firefighters arrived to find a well-involved dumpster with flames extending to the exterior of an adjacent structure. Crews were able to control the fire with no extension to the interior of the building. No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available. Mutual aid was provided by Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Police.

 

Grants Pass firefighters assisted the public this week when a large tree fell onto a vehicle in the downtown area. On Tuesday at 9:24 p.m., Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to the mishap near the corner of SE 9th and J streets. Firefighters said no one was hurt when the tree fell over. Engine 7308 from the Parkway Station along with Battalion Chief 4 assisted with removal of the tree and clearing of the roadway. The Grants Pass Streets Division assisted by bringing a tractor to the scene. Officials said this intercity teamwork is essential to keep Grants Pass operating smoothly and safely.

 

During the public comment period of Wednesday's business meeting of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners, the Interim Director of the OSU Extension Service testified remotely about the value of services it provides. The comments from Interim Director Kristopher Elliott were in response to the potential that the Board of Commissioners could vote to defund the 4-H Extension Service District on Friday morning. The district was created by voters in 1996. Elliott said he agreed with the Board's focus on the importance of transparency and clarity in the use of public funds. He said the agency also believes this is critical and they are confident that current practices -- including routine accounting, regular audits and open communication -- provide for this. Elliott said they also want to make it clear that everyone is welcome in 4-H and all services provided by the OSU Extension. He said their program procedures and guidelines clearly outline the many ways that personal religious expression and private religious activity may occur within the context of 4-H programming while ensuring that as a program they follow applicable laws and policies. Elliott concluded by stating "Josephine County funds have supported local OSU Extension program delivery including 4-H, agriculture, forestry and health for county residents for more than 100 years." The Interim Vice Provost for Extension and Engagement said they hope the Board of Commissioners will also recognize the value of these programs and vote on Friday to collect and allocate service district funds that are essential for support.

 

The Ashland Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management has temporarily closed BLM-managed lands in the Upper Applegate Fire area for public and firefighter safety. Members of the public may not enter closed areas and all uses -- including hiking, hunting and dispersed camping -- are prohibited. The closure order encompasses BLM lands within the immediate fire area as well as critical access roads that firefighters are using. Grouse Creek Road is closed to facilitate access for firefighters. Visit the closure map at "blm.gov/orwafire." BLM officials said public and firefighter safety are the highest priority. They said the closure will allow fire suppression crews to continue to safely respond to the incident. As it becomes safe to do so, firefighters will begin to assess the closure and its impacts in alignment with sound risk management practices. Please call 9-1-1 to report any signs of new fires.

 

The Board of Commissioners will not be voting on budgets for Josephine County, the Law Enforcement Service District and 4-H Extension Service District until Friday morning, but the Board heard plenty of testimony on one of the spending plans on Wednesday. Finance Director Sandy Novak made brief presentations on all three budgets, but there was no public testimony in hearings pertaining to Josephine County or the Law Enforcement Service District. As expected, there was plenty of testimony on the 4-H Extension Service District budget after two of the Commissioners -- John West and Herman Baertschiger -- vowed to defund the district that 2/3 of Josephine County voters approved in 1996. An unofficial tally showed 17 citizens testifying in favor of the service district and five testifying against it. The OSU Extension Service had multiple representatives at the meeting and offered to answer questions from the Board, but none were asked. Testimony in favor of the district was passionate and included several prominent members of the community such as two members of the Cave Junction City Council and a Commissioner candidate. Perhaps the most reasonable suggestion to solve the problem came from veteran Commissioner Dan DeYoung who stated the Board should fund the district for one year and then place a measure on the November ballot asking voters whether they want to continue to pay for OSU Extension Services. Public hearings and final decisions on the budgets will occur on Friday at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.