Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a nursing home patient yesterday after he allegedly got physical with a staff member. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at Highland House in the 2200-block of NW Highland Avenue on Wednesday at 3:54 p.m.. Police said a female worker told them she was entering the room of a 50-year-old male patient when she accidentally struck him with the door. The patient became upset, started yelling at the woman and then pushed her with one hand. According to the report, the victim told officers she was not injured in the incident -- but she wished to press charges against the patient due to the aggressive nature of the physical contact. Officers detained the suspect and charged him with Physical Harassment. The man was cited to appear in court because of several medical issues that prevented him from being lodged in jail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man last night for vandalizing city-owned sprinklers along Rogue River Highway. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident in the 1500-block of Highway 99 on Wednesday around 8:25 p.m.. Police said a woman called 3 Boys Towing to notify employees that she observed a male subject breaking sprinklers in front of the business. The company manager then called the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center to alert law enforcement to the vandalism. The 43-year-old suspect was hostile to the manager when he confronted him. The manager followed the suspect to the Fruitdale Trailer Park. That's where officers contacted him and placed him into custody. He was said to be vulgar, admitted to being intoxicated and denied breaking anything. The evidence proved otherwise. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree and he was being held without bail. GPPD left a message with the City Streets Division regarding the damaged sprinklers.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving yesterday after he fled from the scene of an accident. The Sheriff's Office did not disclose any details about the crash, but deputies said they arrested the 73-year-old man around midday Wednesday. The suspect motorist was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, and Failure to Carry or Display an Operator's License. There were no injuries in the crash. The suspect was booked into the Josephine County Jail without bail. However, he was released from custody this morning.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for a moving violation while investigating death threats made to a certified public accountant this week. According to the Police Department, the incident occurred at the business in the 200-block of Rogue River Highway on Tuesday. Police said a 55-year-old male subject was contacted after employees requested he be trespassed because of death threats that were made. A records check revealed that his driver's license had been suspended and he was the only occupant in the van. He admitted to driving, but he had no emergency reason to be doing so. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving While Suspended. He was also warned for Telephonic Harassment and trespassed from the premises.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man this week for causing a traffic disruption on the Parkway. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident involving the 47-year-old male subject on Tuesday night. Police said the man had generated several service calls due to his intentional acts of running across a public highway while obstructing vehicular traffic. At least one of the callers reported the subject was displaying violent behavior by screaming at passing vehicles. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Officers arrived on scene, contacted the suspect and placed him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and he was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted a total of 11 campers from city parks during routine patrol checks on Wednesday. At Fruitdale Park, one man was cited for Scattering Rubbish while another man was cited for Scattering Rubbish and parking his motorcycle on the grass. The second man was trespassed from the park for 30 days. Twelve campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Morrison Centennial Park, a man and woman were both cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Scattering Rubbish. Both were issued 30-day park exclusions. Nine campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Baker Park, a man was cited for Scattering Rubbish and trespassed for 30 days. Thirteen campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Riverside Park, a man and woman were both cited for Misuse of Open Space and Scattering Rubbish. They were issued 30-day park exclusions. A total of 15 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Tussing Park, a man was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and trespassed for 30 days. Twelve campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Lawnridge Park, a man and woman were both cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Misuse of Open Space. Both were issued 30-day exclusions. Six campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Kesterson Park, a man and woman were both cited for Misuse of Open Space and trespassed for 30 days. One campsite was posted for Illegal Camping.

 

Doe deer are very protective of their fawns and can be aggressive toward nearby people and pets. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has received recent reports of does attacking dogs in Josephine and Jackson counties. In most of these reports, people walking their dogs did not avoid close contact with does. ODFW encourages people to keep away from female deer this summer and keep dogs leashed and under control. ODFW Wildlife Biologist Chris Shelton said does give birth through July in this area so it's best to do this throughout the summer as people have gotten hurt and smaller dogs have been killed by does in the past. Shelton said does and bucks can also become aggressive any time of year when they are being fed. Stay alert, especially at dawn and dusk. Be aware of your surroundings and areas where deer may be. Report any aggressive deer behavior to ODFW's Central Point office at (541)-857-2405.

 

US Senator Ron Wyden has joined his colleagues in calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure federal investment for small businesses in rural Oregon and nationwide through the Rural Development Grant Program. The senators wrote: "Since launching in 2015, Rural Business Development Grant Program (RBDG) funding has provided support for planning, technical assistance, job training and other business development needs in rural areas of all 50 states." They added: "Small businesses provide the majority of jobs in rural communities, yet often have less access to credit and capital when compared to urban areas." The senators requested $37 million for the RBDG. This program specifically supports the development and growth of rural small and emerging businesses with fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues. The senators concluded: "Investing in our rural businesses ensures that communities in every corner of the country can continue to thrive and cultivate a strong local economy."

 

UPDATE: MAKENA BESSETTE WAS LOCATED BY THE EUGENE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND RETURNED TO HER MOTHER.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking public assistance in locating a missing girl from Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports 12-year-old Makena Bessette was last seen at her residence on East Jones Creek Road. Her mother returned home and found that she had packed a bag of belongings and left some time that afternoon. Bessette did not give any indication she was leaving or where she may have gone. She has friends in the Eugene area and her mother believes she may have tried to hitchhike there. There was a confirmed sighting of the girl in Eugene on Wednesday, and the Sheriff's Office has since received information that she could be traveling to California with another female and male. Bessette is described as a white female, 5-feet-3-inches tall and 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Makena Bessette is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.