Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office has been receiving numerous reports of people being scammed into buying Bitcoin. The bad actors of these scams are very convincing. Scams include -- but are not limited to -- PayPal, Norton Antivirus and Lifelock pretending to be financial institutions and/or law enforcement. Scammers may want access to your computer, claim you have warrants or say a loved one is in trouble. They may also provide convincing documents showing deposits into your accounts or give phony stories that they will be in trouble or lose their jobs. The Sheriff's Office understands that hearing facts about your life, home or family can be unnerving and can aid in scammers' attempt to appear legitimate. Much of your information is readily available online such as full names, birth dates, phone numbers, addresses and photos of your home. If you are contacted by one of these scammers take note of these "red flags" and stop. Talk to your bank, law enforcement or a trusted friend before withdrawing money or making deposits. If someone insists that Bitcoin or gift cards are the only form of payment that is accepted, then something is definitely wrong. You can report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at "ReportFraud.ftc.gov."

 

The Grants Pass City Council is set to adopt allowable locations for camping as well as appoint new members to the Council and Budget Committee during its regular meeting tonight. The lone Council Action item is a resolution adopting allowable locations for public camping. During a recent workshop, the panel indicated its preference for four sites with the goal of ending the 14-day injunction against enforcing rules for public camping. The temporary injunction is related to a lawsuit filed against the City of Grants Pass by Disability Rights Oregon and the Oregon Law Center. The Council is also expected to appoint one person to the Ward 3 position vacated by Dwayne Yunker and choose from six candidates to fill two positions on the City Budget Committee. The Consent Agenda includes one resolution authorizing the City Manager to authorize local franchise haulers to receiving compensation for Recycling Modernization Act compliance efforts and another resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract for City Hall Exterior Repairs and Roof Replacement. Tonight's meeting starts at 6 in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

The Grants Pass School District is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new accessible playground for its Early Learning Program on Thursday. The ceremony is set for tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. to celebrate this milestone for the local school district's Pre-K program. In Fall 2023, District 7 launched an early learning program as a way to provide preschool-aged children with a strong foundation for their educational journey. The program is funded entirely by grants and donations as early learning programs do not receive state funding like K-12 education does. Grants Pass started with free parent-child playgroups in the 2023-24 school year. This year, the early learning program expanded and the district is now able to offer free preschool in addition to playgroups, parenting workshops, kindergarten readiness classes and preventive health screenings. The preschool program is accommodating 36 children in its first year, and bringing together children with and without disabilities into one inclusive classroom.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners faces a packed agenda for its weekly business session tomorrow. The Board will make decisions on a total of 11 items under Administrative Actions. The Commissioners will consider nominations for Josephine County Merit Awards plus a Letter of Support and Commitment to Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council. Also on the agenda are the Annual Sale of County Surplus Vehicles and a contract with JB Steel, LLC. The Board will also consider three orders including Suspending Acceptance of Mineral Exploration Permits and Mining Leases, Establishing a Josephine County Voluntary Resignation Program, and canceling the weekly business session next week. In other business, there are three resolutions dealing with Resetting Appointments and Terms for the Josephine County Budget Committee, the Josephine County Rural Planning Commission and Illinois Valley Airports Advisory Committee. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for violating term of his post-prison supervision following an incident near the Parkway early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 34-year-old Kenneth Scott Corfman in the 200-block of NE Terry Lane on Monday shortly after 10 a.m.. Police said Corfman was the subject of a call for service regarding a possible stolen battery. A caller reported seeing a male subject pull up in a Toyota RAV-4, park and pull the battery out, leaving wires dangling and the doors open. The location was near a battery store, but the subject fled the scene on foot. Corfman was tracked by law enforcement while running on NE Fairview Avenue toward the Grants Pass Shopping Center through Parkway Christian Church. He was stopped and placed into custody in an alleyway near the church. Corfman's corrections officer was advised and he wanted him detained. He was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local felony warrant and for drug possession early yesterday during a patrol check at a former eastside eatery. The Police Department reports officers contacted 42-year-old Gabriel Feliciano on the former Shari's restaurant on NE Agness Avenue on Monday around 9:25 a.m.. Police said Feliciano had already been trespassed from the former restaurant and he was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation related to past arrests for 2nd-Degree Burglary and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. During a consent search, Feliciano was found to be in possession of a glass pipe and a small amount of methamphetamine. They were seized for destruction. Feliciano was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on two outstanding warrants in the north part of the city yesterday. According the Police Department, officers were on patrol Monday afternoon when they spotted 24-year-old Calvin Mathew Bertik at Wendy's on NE 6th Street. Police said Bertik was wearing a black mask when he spotted them and took off running west toward Black Bear Diner before he doubled back and started running toward 7th Street. He was eventually detained near McDonalds. Officers then discovered why Bertik ran away from them. He was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Burglary, 3rd-Degree Theft and Possession of Methamphetamine. Bertik was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on his outstanding warrants. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Wolf Creek man on two outstanding warrants during a weekend contact near Interstate 5. OSP reports troopers contacted 29-year-old Colton Jerome Shults underneath an I-5 overpass near Coyote Creek Road on Saturday at 11:27 a.m.. Troopers said Shults was found to be wanted on two Josephine County warrants for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and for failing to appear in court for another unspecified crime. Shults was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $50,000 bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and more after he was involved in a weekend crash on Redwood Highway near Cave Junction. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle wreck near milepost 28 of US Highway 199 on Sunday at 10:45 p.m.. Troopers said a Dodge Caravan driven by 23-year-old Emmanuel Perez collided with a Dodge Ram pickup driven by a 46-year-old Cave Junction man. They said Perez showed signs of impairment at the crash scene. He was transported by ambulance to Three River Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries. While Perez was at the hospital, a telephonic search warrant was granted and a legal blood draw was performed that confirmed a high level of impairment. Perez was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. He was cited and released to the care of hospital staff, but his minivan was impounded. The pickup was also towed.