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Deputies Jailed Woman for Violating Court Order by Threatening Men with Gun
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a North Valley woman for violating a court order by threatening two men with a gun at a Hugo area residence. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 200-block of Hasis Drive late Friday afternoon. Deputies said a 37-year-old female subject called 9-1-1 to report seeing two men on her property through a ring camera. The caller said she was not home and no one else was supposed to be there. A short time later, a neighbor called 9-1-1 to report people fighting and screaming at each other. Upon arrival, deputies learned that the woman they identified as "Nicole Darleen Hollister" had used a gun to threaten her ex-husband and his friend. Deputies also learned that the woman was legally restrained in a protection order with a "no firearms" clause. They placed her into custody while seizing two firearms. Hollister was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Menacing plus Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. She was being held without bail. According to the report, Hollister's children were left with their grandfather and the Oregon Department of Human Services was notified about the incident that was witnessed by the kids.
Posted on 9/9/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Arrested IV Woman for Previous Crimes Committed in Cave Junction
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested an Illinois Valley woman who was wanted for past crimes committed in Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted the 34-year-old female subject in the 5,000-block of Lakeshore Drive near Selma last Friday afternoon. Deputies said the woman they identified as "Andrea McGrath" admitted to several criminal mischiefs and attempted gasoline thefts related to two previous cases. McGrath was charged with probable cause of two counts of 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and one count of 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was cited to appear in court and released, but not before being trespassed from Shopsmart and another business in the 100-block of South Redwood highway.
Posted on 9/9/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh
 

Hot Weather Causes Small Portion of Salt Creek Fire to Rekindle near Lake Creek
Hot, dry and windy weather caused a small portion of the Salt Creek Fire to rekindle in the Eagle Point area yesterday. The Oregon Department of Forestry and Lake Creek Rural Fire Protection District responded to an estimated one-acre fire off Salt Creek and Gardner roads, north of Highway 140, on Sunday afternoon. Firefighters engaged in an aggressive initial attack that included one crew, a water tender, a bulldozer and multiple aircraft. A second 20-person crew, an additional engine and a helicopter were ordered as the blaze grew to 3-5 acres. In a 5:30 p.m. update, ODF reported crews were knocking down the active fire and holding it to less than five acres. Resources remained engaged on the fire and continued building containment line before mopping up the incident. ODF officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation. The Salt Creek Fire burned just over 4,000 acres between Eagle Point and Butte Falls earlier this summer.
Posted on 9/9/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh
 

Multiple Agencies Extinguished Saturday Evening Vegetation Fire near Murphy
Multiple agencies knocked down a vegetation fire in the Murphy area over the weekend. On Saturday at 5:14 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, Applegate Valley Fire District and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a grass and brush fire on Crystal Drive near Williams Highway. Rural Metro officials said forward progress of the blaze was stopped at just under a half-acre. No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened. Officials said investigators were looking into the cause of the fire, but it may have involved a powerline.
Posted on 9/9/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh
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CJ City Council Meeting Features Resolutions, Park Request & Proclamation
Tonight's Cave Junction City Council meeting features two resolutions, a park use request and a proclamation. Following the monthly Public Works and Planning updates, Mayor Meadow Martell and Councilors Ethan Lane, Tina Casey Jones, Jean Ann Miles and Jesse Dugas will consider a request to use Jubilee Park for a music festival. Molly Lehman has submitted a request for a Summer Jam Festival on Saturday, October 12th. She is requesting a full park rental with amplified sound. There is also an OLCC Liquor License Recommendation from Sushi & Asian Cuisine on the agenda as well as a proclamation for the Daughters of the American Revolution. After the public comment period, the Council will consider one resolution to support the Fair Housing Act and another resolutions declaring a home on South Redwood Highway to be a nuisance. Tonight's meeting starts at 7 at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.
Posted on 9/9/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Police and Firefighters Kept Heat on Criminals and Off Structures Last Week
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Grants Pass police officers and firefighters kept the heat on criminal offenders and off structures in the city last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 673 calls for service along with 259 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 50 arrests, 43 citations, 43 warnings and nine highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 58 traffic stops in the city and they made a total of 14 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team contacted a total of 157 potential trouble-makers while arresting four people, citing nine more and warning 88 others. The CRT unit also trespassed four individuals from homes or businesses in the city. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue received a total of 105 calls last week including 31 for emergency medical service, six for reports of fire or smoke, 13 lift assists, five rescue situations, 10 assists to other agencies and four false alarms. Firefighters also performed 14 business inspections, led five education/prevention programs, assisted the public 13 times and properly installed two child car seats.
Posted on 9/9/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
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Local Homeowners Can Apply to Oregon Community Heat Pump Deployment Program
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Homeowners living in the Southern Oregon region can now apply for financial incentives for installing heat pumps in their owner-occupied homes through the Oregon Department of Energy's Community Heat Pump Deployment Program. The Community Heat Pump Deployment Program provides financial assistance to homeowners toward the purchase and installation of heat pumps in their owner-occupied residences. Up to $5,000 is available for the purchase and installation of a heat pump that meets minimum efficiency requirements. Up to $7,000 is available for the purchase and installation of a heat pump that meets higher efficiency requirements. A grant of up to $4,000 may also be available for eligible upgrades such as a new electrical panel or weatherization or structural repairs that reduce heat and cooling loss. The incentive and grant amounts may not exceed 100% of the cost of purchase and installation of a heat pump or eligible upgrades. For more information on the Community Heat Pump Deployment Program, visit "oregon.gov/energy/incentives/pages/CHPDP.aspx."
Posted on 9/9/24 6:11AM by Sam Marsh
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City of GP Announces Construction of Dollar Mountain Trail Project Starts Today
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The City of Grants Pass has announced that construction of the Dollar Mountain Trail Project will begin today. The initial phase of the project will involve building approximately five miles of trails on the east side of the existing trails located off Hieglen Loop. Trail construction is expected to last until the beginning of December, weather permitting. Closed areas will be marked and the public is cautioned not to venture into any closed area at any time. If you have questions about the Dollar Mountain Trail Construction Project, please contact Parks Superintendent Josh Hopkins at: "jhopkins@grantspassoregon.gov."
Posted on 9/9/24 6:01AM by Sam Marsh
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Firefighters Responded to 2 Structure Fires in Cave Junction Area Late Friday
Firefighters responded to two structure fires in the Cave Junction area late yesterday. On Friday at 5:23 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry and American Medical Response were dispatched to a structure fire in an undisclosed location of Cave Junction. Arriving units found the homeowner was able to extinguish the fire, but they were burned in the process and transported by AMR ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass. Firefighters confirmed the blaze was out and there was no extension to the attic space or surrounding wildland. On Friday at 7:09 p.m., IVFD, Rural Metro Fire Department and AMR responded to a structure fire in another undisclosed location of Cave Junction. Arriving units found a fully-engulfed two-story home, with some spread to the wildland that was quickly suppressed. Officials said the home was a total loss, but no firefighters or civilians were hurt. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Posted on 9/7/24 6:38AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Detectives Arrested Local Teenager for Alleged Felony-Level Sex Crimes
The Oregon State Police has arrested a local teenager for three alleged felony-level sex crimes. Josephine County Jail records show the 18-year-old man was arrested by OSP on Wednesday around noon. No details have been disclosed about the criminal allegations, but he was charged with 2nd-Degree Rape plus two other felony-level sex crimes. The young man was being held without bail.
Posted on 9/7/24 6:36AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Man for Past Pursuit and Added Drug Possession Charge
Grants Pass Police jailed a man wanted for a previous law enforcement pursuit while adding a charge of drug possession and referring a charge of bribery. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 33-year-old male subject they identified as "Terry Lee Grigsby" in the 1800-block of Nebraska Avenue on Thursday afternoon. Police said Grigsby had previously eluded them and they spotted his black BMW before placing him into custody. During a consent search, they found him to be in possession of a white crystal substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. During the booking process at the Josephine County Jail, Grigsby reportedly offered the arresting officer gifts in return for a special recommendation for his release. Grigsby was lodged in jail for probable cause of Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Meth Possession. A charge of Bribery was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.
Posted on 9/7/24 6:34AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Motorist for Meth Possession and Possibly Vehicle Theft
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for drug possession and possibly vehicle theft after a traffic stop in the northwest part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a 2013 Honda Civic driven by a 46-year-old male subject near the corner of NW Conklin Avenue and Savage Street around midday Thursday. Police said the Honda had been reported stolen by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and the subject matched the description of the thief. However, officers were unable to make contact with the registered owner. The man GPPD identified as "Russell Gene Thompson" consented to a search of the car and officers located two glass pipes with methamphetamine residue. The drug paraphernalia was seized for destruction and the suspect was arrested. Thompson was lodged in jail for Meth Possession, he was cited for Driving While Suspended and he was warned for No Seatbelt. The stolen car was recovered and a report was sent to the Sheriff's Office for further investigation. Custody of the suspect's dog was given to a friend.
Posted on 9/7/24 6:33AM by Sam Marsh
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