Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a male transient for attacking another man near the downtown Post Office this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at the corner of NE 6th and E streets on Wednesday afternoon. Police said the victim was walking in the crosswalk when the suspect began stating that the victim had ruined his family. They said the suspect then walked to where the man was standing with his chest puffed up and fists clenched. The victim told officers he pushed the suspect due to the threat of close proximity and the suspect punched him. The victim defended himself by punching back, but neither man was seriously injured. The victim's $20 watch was broken in the fight. According to the report, several people witnessed the altercation and many of them were familiar with the homeless man sitting near the Post Office on a daily basis. Following the investigation, officers placed the 58-year-old suspect into custody and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing a disturbance at a youth baseball game near a local elementary school this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the baseball field at Allen Dale Elementary School in the 2300-block of Williams Highway on Wednesday evening. Police said multiple witnesses observed the 39-year-old man driving a black Kia Sportage around 50 miles per hour in the gravel parking lot near the baseball field, nearly running another motorist off the roadway. When confronted about his dangerous driving, the man began yelling and threatening to fight parents and coaches. No one was hurt in the altercation. Responding officers interviewed witnesses and then placed the suspect into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Driving and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman this week for unlawfully entering a residence from which she had already been trespassed and making herself at home. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the break-in at a home in the 1200-block of NE A Street on Wednesday afternoon. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report a female subject had entered his home and remained there, knowing that she had been previously trespassed on February 16th of this year. The caller told dispatchers he walked into a spare bedroom and found the woman lying on a bed doing her makeup. She immediately got up and left. Officers searched the area and found the woman at the corner of NE Beacon Drive and D Street. She admitted that she had returned to the home, but thought that the trespass warning lasted for only 30 days. That only pertains to city parks. The 29-year-old suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Burglary and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail. The victim and his family were advised to let police know if they noticed any damage or missing items.

 

A Josephine County man wanted on a local warrant turned himself in to Grants Pass Police early yesterday. The Police Department reports a 49-year-old male subject surrendered at GPPD headquarters on NE 7th Street on Thursday shortly after 3 a.m.. Police said the man told officers he wanted to turn himself in on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Contempt of Court. No other details were available. After the warrant was confirmed, the suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $30,000 bail.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a Cave Junction woman for causing a motor vehicle accident on Redwood Highway just west of Grants Pass this week. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle crash near milepost 4 of US Highway 199 on Wednesday morning. Troopers said the 38-year-old female motorist was driving a Toyota Corolla when she crashed into an Oregon Department of Transportation vehicle driven by a 26-year-old ODOT worker. The wreck resulted in suspected minor injuries, but no one was transported to the hospital. According to the report, the Toyota was towed into Grants Pass while the ODOT truck was still drivable. Following the investigation, the woman was cited for Careless Driving, Speeding and Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.

 

The Transfer Station at Southern Oregon Sanitation will be closing early on several days this month for a repaving project. The SOS Transfer Station at 1381 Redwood Avenue will close at 3 p.m. on June 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 28th, 29th and 30th. The SOS Recycle Depot will remain open until the normal closing time of 5 p.m. on all of these dates. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact SOS at (541)-479-5335 Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m..

 

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has received $150,000 from the Oregon Department of Forestry for forest restoration work that will reduce catastrophic fire risk on 20,000 acres of the Big Butte Springs watershed, the year-round source of drinking water for Medford and surrounding communities. The award is under the Planning Assistance and Categorical Exclusion (PACE) funds administered by ODF's Federal Forest Restoration (FFR) Program. Kyle Sullivan-Astor, who leads ODF's FFR Program said PACE investments provide contracting opportunities that assist federal forest managers to expand and accelerate planning for restoring forests. He said the Snowy Butte Forest Restoration Project will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire in the watershed supplying Medford and nearby communities with drinking water. Sullivan-Astor said ODF invested about $2 million in 10 PACE projects this year to expedite planning efforts. The funds came from both federal and state monies -- $1.4 million Good Neighbor Authority federal funds and $600,000 from the state's General Fund. The goal of the project is reduce hazardous fuels on approximately 20,000 acres, which amounts to one-third of the watershed. The watershed is identified as a priority area in the Rogue Basin Cohesive Forest Restoration Strategy, published by the Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative in 2017.

 

Across the West, local organizations are caring for their most vulnerable neighbors and working to create safe, supportive, healthy communities where everyone can thrive. To help them turn their aspirations into reality, Pacific Power Foundation is donating $245,000 in new grant funding in Oregon, Washington and California. The grants will fund a diverse range of programs including many that provide meals for those facing food insecurity, offer shelter for those who are unhoused or facilitate healthcare for underserved communities. These are projects to increase public safety and services for teenagers, families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and victims of child abuse and domestic violence. Eight grants totaling $39,270 were given to local nonprofits supporting communities in the Rogue Valley. They include a grant to the Josephine County Foundation to assist the Williams Rural Fire Protection District with station and engine equipment and a grant to the Redwood Foundation for Education to help reduce food insecurity by providing packaged foods at local elementary schools. Other local Pacific Power grant recipients include Mercy Flights, La Clinica, Rogue Community Health, Rogue Valley Mentoring and Crossing Bridges Therapeutic Riding Center.

 

The American Red Cross critically needs blood and platelet donors now following a concerning decrease in donations as the country has experienced an increase in severe weather systems and historic travel. In fact, over the past month about 20,000 fewer blood donations were collected than needed to maintain the Red Cross national blood supply. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), five of the busiest travel days happened in May and more record-breaking travel is expected this summer -- a busy time when many regular donors may be unable to give. Additionally, the US is approaching what AAA calls the "100 deadliest days" of summer for auto accidents. It is critical hospitals have lifesaving blood products on hand for all trauma and accident victims who count on transfusions when there is no time to waste. Make a blood donation appointment by downloading the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting "RedCrossBlood.org" or by calling 1-(800)-RED-CROSS. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.