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GP Police Snared Woman for DUII & More after She Crashed at Babe's Bakery

Grants Pass Police arrested a repeat impaired driver after she crashed a vehicle at a north-city bakery and fled the scene last night. The Police Department reports officers were dispatched to the hit-and-run motor vehicle accident at Babe's Bakery on NE 6th Street on Monday at 6:13 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined that 26-year-old Samantha Lee Smith crashed her Toyota Tacoma onto the bakery property, damaging a fence and a flowerbed. Officers later located the suspect vehicle which had its license plates removed since the crash and was parked among other vehicles at a retirement center in the 1,000-block of NE 10th Street. Witnesses described the driver. Smith returned with her boyfriend a short time later and tried to leave the center, but she was detained and placed into custody. She showed signs of impairment, but refused to cooperate with the investigation -- so a search warrant was obtained for a legal blood draw performed at Three Rivers Medical Center. Based on the results of the blood draw, Smith was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and Tampering with Evidence. She was also cited for No Operator's License and Failure to Install an Ignition Interlock Device on her vehicle. She lost her license and was ordered to install the device due to previous DUII convictions.

Posted on 10/1/24 11:12AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Prevented Suicide Attempt on Williams Highway between GP & Murphy

The Oregon State Police likely prevented a suicide attempt on Williams Highway between Grants Pass and Murphy last night. OSP reports troopers responded to a report of a suicidal male subject in the 4,000-block of Highway 238 on Monday at 8:30 p.m.. Troopers said it was reported that the 24-year-old man had cut himself with a knife and was threatening to kill himself by jumping in front of passing vehicles. Upon contact, the man resisted detainment and had to be Tased before he was subdued. According to OSP, evidence of suicidal intention was found on the man and he later admitted to being suicidal. The subject was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center where he was admitted on a Peace Officer's Mental Hold.

Posted on 10/1/24 11:10AM by Sam Marsh

Multiple Agencies Battled Small Wildfire Next to NB Interstate 5 in Sunny Valley

Multiple agencies battled a small wildfire next to Interstate 5 in the Sunny Valley area late yesterday. On Monday at 3:47 p.m., the Oregon Department of Forestry, Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District all responded to the blaze on the northbound side of I-5 near milepost 72. Firefighters engaged in an aggressive initial attack and began lining the fire. By 4:25 p.m., crews had stopped forward progress of the blaze and were working to construct line around it, but they were challenged by windy conditions as a Red Flag Warning was in effect. The aggressive attack continued. In a 4:50 p.m. update, ODF reported a Type 2 helicopter was assisting with water bucket drops on the inland side of the fire. Firefighters on the ground continued to line the perimeter and extinguish hot spots. Tall, dry grass and brush mixed with windy conditions contributed to the initial growth of the fire. The main body was caught at an estimated half-acre and a small spot fire to the south was caught at an estimated 1/10th of an acre. One lane of I-5 was closed by the Oregon Department of Transportation during the firefight. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Posted on 10/1/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

ODF and Jackson County Crews Knocked Down Grass Fire in Sams Valley Area

The Oregon Department of Forestry and Jackson County Fire District #3 knocked down a vegetation fire in the Sams Valley area yesterday. Crews from ODF and the local fire district responded to a grass fire near the intersection of Highway 234 and Agate Road early Monday afternoon. Firefighters mounted an aggressive initial attack and had the majority of the fire extinguished and lined in short order. The blaze was located inside a previously created bulldozer line at the solar panel site, which aided efforts. By 2:30 p.m., ODF reported the fire was 100% wet-lined and crews had stopped any further growth. Crews were successful at holding the fire at two to three acres. Resources remained on scene to continue to dig line to create a more solid barrier as mop-up operations were started. The cause of the fire was under investigation. ODF officials caution local residents to be aware that fires can still start and spread easily in these warm, dry conditions. For that reason, high fire danger is still in effect throughout Jackson and Josephine counties. For more information on current fire restrictions, please visit "swofire.com."

Posted on 10/1/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man on State Warrant after Weekend Dispute Over Speaker

Grants Pass Police apprehended a fugitive wanted on a statewide felony warrant following a weekend dispute over ownership of a speaker. The Police Department reports officers arrested 33-year-old Shelby Anthony Acosta while he was walking along SE 7th Street on Sunday at 7:46 p.m.. Police said Acosta was accused to stealing a portable JBL speaker from a woman and the dispute turned into a wrestling match at SE J and Mill streets. Acosta told officers the speaker belonged to him and the woman was holding it for him while he was incarcerated in the Josephine County Jail. According to the report, the woman did not have any proof of ownership rights to the speaker and it was a civil issue since Acosta had possession of it. Further investigation revealed that Acosta was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from an assault conviction. He was lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer. The speaker was placed in safekeeping since Acosta was arrested on the warrant. The woman was advised of the situation and provided with options.

Posted on 10/1/24 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man on Local Felony Warrant after Walmart Trespass Call

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local felony warrant following a weekend trespassing complaint at Walmart. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a suspicious male subject in the store on NE Terry Lane on Sunday around 4:15 p.m.. Police said they contacted 34-year-old Brandon Michael Ginger after Walmart staff requested that he be trespassed. A routine records check showed he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for drug possession. He was placed into custody. During a consent search, Ginger was found to have several drug-related items in his backpack. One of the items was tested with a field swab and it came back positive for methamphetamine. All the items were seized for destruction. Ginger was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. He was also trespassed from Walmart.

Posted on 10/1/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed GP Woman for Felony Drug Possession after Freeway Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass woman for felony drug possession following a weekend traffic stop on Interstate 5 in the North Valley area. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Dodge Neon driven by a 30-year-old female subject in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 63 on Sunday at 11:18 p.m.. Troopers said they conducted the stop after observing multiple traffic violations. Upon contact with the driver, they said drug paraphernalia was observed in the center console and she admitted that she had methamphetamine in the car. A search of the vehicle uncovered more than 10 grams of meth, which is a felony-level amount, plus a much smaller amount of fentanyl. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and booked into the Josephine County Jail for Felony Possession of Methamphetamine. Her car was impounded and the drugs were seized for destruction.

Posted on 10/1/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested GP Man for Impaired Driving after SE City Weekend Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man for impaired driving after a weekend traffic stop in the southeast part of the city. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Subaru Forester driven by a 29-year-old male subject near the corner of SE Grandview Avenue and Gaffney Way early Sunday morning. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for speeding and the driver displayed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety test and was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center where a search warrant for a legal blood draw was granted. Based on the results of the blood draw, the suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 10/1/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

OR Marine Board Holding Wednesday Work Session on Upper Rogue Boats

The Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) will hold a work session and accept public comment regarding boat operations on the Upper Rogue River tomorrow. The OSMB work session is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Rogue Community College Riverside Campus in Medford. At its July 2024 meeting, the Marine Board asked staff to convene a public meeting so they could consider boat operations on the Rogue from the former location of the Gold Ray Dam to Lost Creek Reservoir. The public is invited to share their perspectives specific to boating operations -- both motorized and non-motorized -- for the Upper Rogue River. The meeting format will begin with invited presentations and testimony, followed by an open public comment period. It will end after the last speaker or by 4 p.m., whichever comes first. Written public comments will be accepted by October 16th at 5 p.m.. They can be e-mailed to "jennifercooper@boat.oregon.gov."

Posted on 10/1/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh

GP City Council Receives Staff Updates on URA Projects, Owl Plaza and ARPA Funds

The Grants Pass City Council received staff updates on Urban Renewal Agency Projects, the future Owl Plaza and American Rescue Plan Act Allocations during its workshop session on Monday. Some informal decisions were made as well. City Economic Development Director Dana Pearce presented a five-year strategy to implement Urban Renewal Agency (URA) projects based on the approximately $2 million in taxes the agency receives each year. City Finance Director JC Rowley said the top three identified URA projects are the Owl Plaza, the Midland-Washington property recently purchased from Asante and Caveman Pool. The City Council plans to hold a public forum prior to adopting the five-year implementation strategy. Community Development Director Brad Clark presented an update on the Owl Plaza which he said will be the first project of the URA. He said the combination parking lot and downtown plaza will feature a new sidewalk, new shade sail, five benches, two bicycle racks, 10 trees and 30 bollards due to the curb-less perimeter. Clark said final engineering is complete and the cost of the Owl Plaza will be $1,672,486. He said a "buy-a-brick" fundraising campaign will begin this month and a request for proposals will go out in November, with hopes the project can begin by next summer.

Posted on 10/1/24 5:53AM by Sam Marsh

US Senators Announce More Than $13 Million for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration

US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced a total of nearly $13.4 million was awarded to four projects in Oregon that will boost the conservation and restoration of essential aquatic ecosystems and habitat. This federal funding from the US Department of the Interior includes efforts to upgrade fish passages, restore endangered species' habitats and reconnect floodplain wetlands. A large portion of the investment will specifically go toward two projects to support the recovery and restoration of the Klamath River following the removal of the four lower Klamath dams -- the largest dam removal in United States history. The federal funding comes from the Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program, which was made possible by the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding includes $923,240 for the Freshwater Trust to complete the design and engineering of a project to restore high-functioning, resilient aquatic habitat along a 2.5-mile high-priority reach of Bear Creek along the Greenway Trail near the City of Phoenix.

Posted on 10/1/24 5:51AM by Sam Marsh

Valley of the Rogue Park Announces Day Use Area's New Seasonal Hours Start Today

As daylight hours get shorter this time of year, Valley of the Rogue State Park staff would like to remind visitors that the seasonal hours for the day-use area are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., starting today. The hours will continue to change throughout the season. Posted signs will reflect changes as they occur at the park, which is located at milepost 45B of Interstate 5 near the City of Rogue River. Park staff will close and lock the gates at the park's entrance at 7 p.m. and reopen them at 8 a.m.. The park is no longer a rest area with 24-hour access as of last fall. Overnight parking is prohibited in the day-use area and restrooms will not be available when the day-use area is closed. There is no space in the day-use area for semi-trucks to turn around when the gates are closed. The day-use area includes two restrooms, a fenced area for dogs off leash, access to the Rogue River Greenway Trail, a boat launch for the Rogue River, picnic tables, an Applegate Trail interpretive kiosk and wood-carving displays.

Posted on 10/1/24 5:49AM by Sam Marsh

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