Local News

US Cellular is giving back to the local community this holiday season by donating needed items to the Grants Pass Lady Rogues Fastpitch Softball Program. With its "Gift of Connection" program, US Cellular is donating $1,500 worth of bat backpacks to help enhance their experience and confidence as they grow in their athletic journey. This "Gift of Connection" donation is one of 50 donations to nonprofit groups and organizations across the country. The company is helping organizations that bring people and communities together to enjoy genuine connections through arts, music, sports and food with needed supplies. Since 2009, US Cellular has invested more than $47 million in monetary donations, technology resources and countless experiences to nonprofit organizations across the country.

 

Not many voters in Josephine County have weighed in so far on the recall election that seeks to remove Commissioner John West from office. As of Friday evening, the Josephine County Clerk's Office reported just over 25% of registered voters had returned their ballots before Tuesday night's deadline. Out of 70,462 registered voters, only 17,875 had turned in their ballots. West has filed a lawsuit against Josephine County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels, alleging that she and her staff improperly counted signatures on the recall petition. A court hearing has been set for Wednesday -- the day after the election. Per the Oregon Secretary of State's Office, it is recommended that voters drop their ballots off at the Courthouse in Grants Pass or an official drop-site location before tomorrow's 8 p.m. deadline. Drop boxes are located at the Clerk's Office, the north and south entrances to the Courthouse, the back parking lot of the Grants Pass library branch, Washington Federal Bank on Union Avenue, Ray's Food Place in Merlin, Hidden Valley Market in Murphy and Cave Junction City Hall. Voters can still mail in their ballots and they will be counted if they receive the December 17th postmark.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters continued their quest to protect citizens and structures during the holiday season. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 544 calls for service along with 224 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 47 arrests, 21 citations, 31 warnings and nine highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 120 contacts with potential troublemakers while arresting two people, citing four more and warning 20 others. The CRT unit also trespassed five individuals, posted one transient camp and removed trash from 25 campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 88 calls last week including 30 for emergency medical service, 17 lift assists, one rescue situation, four assists to other agencies and two false alarms. Firefighters also performed 30 business inspections, led six education/prevention programs and assisted the public at least four times.

 

Grants Pass Fire & Rescue along with fire departments from across Josephine County will be conducting a large-scale training exercise in the downtown area this week. The training exercise is scheduled to take place at River Valley Church today, Tuesday and Friday. To facilitate this training, D Street between 6th and 7th streets will be closed from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. all three days. Grants Pass Fire Chief Jimmy Sanchez said these drills are vital for honing their emergency response skills and ensuring the safety of the community. Citizens may notice "training smoke" coming from the church building and surrounding area, but don't be alarmed as it is part of the exercise. Sanchez said he appreciates citizens' understanding and cooperation as they work together to maintain a safe and prepared community. If you're in the area, please plan accordingly and drive carefully around the training zone.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man early yesterday for unlawfully entering a vacant residence and turning on the oven in order to heat the dwelling. The Police Department reports officers arrested 41-year-old Genaro Joseph Elliott Montalvo for the incident in the 1400-block of Parkdale Drive on Thursday at 7:11 in the morning. Police said a neighbor called 9-1-1 to report seeing a male subject walking around a vacant duplex. The caller said she saw the man on the porch and when she yelled at him, he fled toward the back of the building. A short time later, the neighbor called back and said she observed the subject inside one of the duplex units. Responding officers contacted Montalvo and determined that he entered the vacant residence without consent of the property owner. He admitted to gaining entry through an unlocked rear slider door. Once inside, he turned on the electric oven to a high temperature for a prolonged period of time to heat up the inside of the unit. Montalvo was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Burglary and Theft of Services. He was being held without bail and his belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for causing a disturbance at the county's Public Works Department offices in south Grants Pass yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 29-year-old Rayne Allen Teague at the facility on River Heights Way on Thursday at 12:33 p.m.. Deputies said a Public Works employee called 9-1-1 to report Teague was wearing a fake gun and holster while he was trying to get in the front door of the building. The caller said the man was yelling and screaming at employees who were unable to get inside because he was blocking the doorway. According to the report, Teague initially asked to speak with a supervisor and he became upset when he was told the supervisor was not there. Teague was eventually placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was also trespassed from the property.

 

A Grants Pass Police drug investigation led to the arrest of a man inside a shuttered restaurant late last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a report of a drug overdose inside the former Shari's Cafe & Pies on NE Agness Avenue on Thursday around 11 p.m.. Police said the caller reported the back door to the closed restaurant was open and disconnected. Officers arrived on scene and contacted 37-year-old Jordan Ellis Haas inside the building. He was detained while additional units cleared the remainder of the building. The property had been ransacked. Haas told officers that a male subject let him inside after he smoked some fentanyl. He admitted that he did not have permission to be inside and he could not identify or describe the man who let him. Haas was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a drug evaluation. After he was medically cleared at the hospital, he was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. The building was secured, the property owner was contacted and the investigation was continuing.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night following a traffic stop at a Grants Pass Fire & Rescue station. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over a white Dodge Dakota driven by a 55-year-old male subject at the Parkway Fire Station on Thursday at 8:46 p.m.. Deputies said they observed the subject driving erratically on Parkdale Drive and turning onto East Park Street. After they turned on lights and siren, the man stopped at the fire station while blocking the large doors. The suspect proceeded to perform poorly in field sobriety tests, so he was placed into custody. He was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. The suspect was cited and released at the Grants Pass Sobering Center, but his pickup was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police cited an Illinois Valley man for causing a crash at a construction site on Redwood Highway near Wonder yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle wreck near milepost 12 of US Highway 199 on Thursday at 12:54 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicated a 41-year-old O'Brien man was driving a Ford Econoline minivan when he rear-ended a Jeep Renegade driven by a Burien, Washington, man who had stopped for an active flagging operation. No one was hurt. According to OSP, the investigation determined the O'Brien man was at fault. He was cited for Driving While Suspended and No Insurance. His van was towed to an impound yard in Grants Pass.