Local News

The Oregon State Fire Marshal wants to clear up confusion about state firefighters and equipment sent to Southern California last week to help with the wildfires. There has been some misinformation spreading on social media and from some news outlets claiming the deployed equipment had to pass California emissions tests, and that Oregon crews and equipment were turned away or delayed. Oregon firefighters left the state last Wednesday from various locations in the state -- including Southern Oregon. These strike teams traveled to Sacramento where they stayed the night. Early Thursday morning, they went through a routine safety check with Cal Fire to make sure the engines were technically sound. Oregon strike teams were scheduled to arrive in the Los Angeles area on Thursday. There was no delay in the process or travel. Firefighting equipment is held to the highest standards to ensure the safety of firefighters. No Oregon engine was turned away. All 15 teams completed the safety checks and they all arrived in Southern California on Thursday to begin their 24-hour shifts early Friday morning.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters logged another busy week of activity while protecting the community. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 533 calls for service along with 260 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 52 arrests, 38 citations, 25 warnings and four highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 61 traffic stops in the city and they made 14 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 155 contacts with potential troublemakers while arresting five people, citing three more and warning 25 others. The CRT unit also trespassed seven individuals, posted 134 transient camps and removed trash from three campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 89 calls last week including 37 for emergency medical service, 9 reports of fire or smoke, 14 lift assists, 11 rescue situations, 5 assists to other agencies and 6 false alarms. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,083 emergency calls.

 

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce stands in full support of the Community Library and urges the Board of Commissioners to engage in positive collaboration and uphold a fair process in any negotiations concerning the lease of the Grants Pass branch library building. The Board of Commissioners recently voted unanimously to terminate the existing lease with the local library district for the property located at 200 NW C Street, citing maintenance costs for the building and other county properties like the jail. The Chamber recognizes the vital role that Josephine Community Library plays in providing essential services including access to information, educational programs and community engagement opportunities. Libraries are cornerstones of thriving communities, contributing to economic development, literacy and quality of life. The Chamber also acknowledges the Commissioners' commitment to fiscal responsibility, but believes concerns around these topics must be addressed through a deliberative process to ensure the well-being of the community.

 

The Oregon State Police jailed a Grants Pass man for allegedly threatening a truck driver with a knife on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County during an apparent road rage incident late yesterday. OSP reports troopers arrested 51-year-old Yancey Gene Herriage at the Manzanita rest area off the southbound lanes of I-5 on Thursday around 4:35 p.m.. Troopers said they responded to a call stating the male driver of a Toyota 4-Runner brandished a knife at the driver of a semi-truck while traveling on the freeway. The truck driver was identified as a 44-year-old Canyonville man. No one was hurt. According to OSP, troopers contacted Herriage at the rest stop and placed him into custody based on statements from the truck driver and a subsequent interview. Herriage was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Menacing. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on a statewide felony warrant last night after he allegedly stole money from a woman and then lied to officers about his identity. The Police Department reports officers arrested 33-year-old Troy Anthony Goodwin at the former Solar Man building in the 100-block of SW M Street next to the 7-Eleven store on Thursday at 9:55 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report she had given a ride to Goodwin who stole around $160 from her purse and then retreated into the old Solar man facility. The building owner gave consent to search the premises and the suspect was found hiding in a trailer at the back of the property. He provided several fictitious names. Once Goodwin's true identity was established, officers discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a 2021 conviction for an unspecified weapon offense. Goodwin was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and a charge of Furnishing False Information. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. A charge of 2nd-Degree Theft was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration due to conflicting statements made by the victim.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for violating his probation after responding to a midday disturbance in the north part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to four people fighting in the 1500-block of NE 6th Street on Thursday at the beginning of the noon hour. Police said the group had dispersed by the time they arrived on scene, but they detained 33-year-old Kyle Flury Palomino due to his frequent criminal exploits. They contacted his corrections officer who requested that his client be detained. Palomino was wanted for Probation Violation related to a recent arrest for Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Two other men -- identified by GPPD as "Douglas" and "Delicino" -- were warned about their poor public behavior and told to move along.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outside felony warrant after searching for him early today. The Police Department reports officers located 44-year-old Robert John Schmoke at U-Turn for Christ near Riverside Park at about 5:15 this morning. Police said Schmoke was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant charging him with failing to appear in court for Attempt to Elude Police, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. According to the report, GPPD was asked to find Schmoke by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and he was located after a brief investigation. Schmoke was lodged at the Josephine County Jail where he was being held pending transfer to the Jackson County Jail in Medford.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man with a bad habit of impaired driving in the north part of the city late last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance involving 65-year-old Sean Dennis O'Keefe in the 1200-block of NE 6th Street on Thursday around 11:20 p.m. Police said a nearby resident called 9-1-1 to report two men and one woman who were yelling and screaming at each other while causing public alarm. Upon arrival, officers detained the subjects including O'Keefe. No one was hurt in the incident. O'Keefe was placed into custody after police discovered that he was wanted on three Grants Pass warrants -- all charging him with failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $30,000 bail. During intake at the jail, O'Keefe was found to be in possession of two small baggies with a white crystal substance that he admitted was methamphetamine. A charge of Meth Possession was referred to the District Attorney for consideration.

 

Grants Pass Police charged two women with petty theft and drug possession yesterday after twin shoplifting incidents at Walmart. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the theft complaints at the store on NE Terry Lane on Thursday at 12:25 p.m.. Police said 37-year-old Sabrina Marie Wilson was contacted outside Walmart after she admitted to concealing more than $30 worth of items without any means to pay for them. She was also found to be in possession of a small amount of fentanyl. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Heather Elaine Dixon was brought into the Walmart loss prevention office after attempting to leave the store without paying for more than $33 in food items. She admitted to stealing from the store and to possessing a small amount of fentanyl. Both Wilson and Dixon were cited to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft and Fentanyl Possession before being released from custody. The fentanyl was seized and destroyed.