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GP Police Cited Two and Evicted One during 7th Street Campsite Check

Grants Pass Police cited two people and evicted one of them during a patrol check at the NE 7th Street homeless campsite yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted two men they identified as Ryan Burrows and Charles Williams at the "resting place" at 11:20 a.m. Monday. Burrows was cited for Scattering Rubbish while Williams was cited for Scattering Rubbish and Utilization of Park Space. Williams was trespassed from the campsite for 30 days.

Posted on 4/8/25 10:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police & Firefighters Logged Busy Week of Activity in First Days of April

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters logged a busy week of activity during the first days of April. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 569 calls for service along with 327 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 84 arrests, 43 citations, 65 warnings and five highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 96 traffic stops in the city while making 23 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made contact with a total of 22 potential troublemakers while citing seven people and warning 12 others. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 93 calls last week including 40 for emergency medical service, one report of fire or smoke, 14 lift assists, four rescue situations, three assists to other agencies and six false alarms. Firefighters also performed 15 business inspections, led two education/prevention programs, assisted the public six times and properly installed one child car seat. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,071 emergency calls along with 608 calls for non-emergency service.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Collared Out-of-State Fugitive during Weekend Traffic Stop near Merlin

The Oregon State Police apprehended a man on an out-of-state fugitive warrant following a weekend traffic stop in the Merlin area. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Toyota Camry occupied by 28-year-old Kyle Adam Berger on Merlin Road near Merlin Landfill Road at 5:27 p.m. Sunday. Troopers said they stopped the Camry driven by 46-year-old Tawnia L. Berger of Grants Pass for multiple traffic violations. Kyle Berger was her passenger and he was found to be wanted on an out-of-state warrant for Felony Parole Violation. Kyle Berger was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings. Tawnia Berger was cited to appear in court for the traffic violations.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Outstanding Warrants & Drugs in Restaurant Check

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on three outstanding warrants during a weekend patrol check at an eastside restaurant. The Police Department reports officers contacted 47-year-old Michael Del Curry at Elmer's on NE Agness Avenue on Sunday shortly after 3 p.m.. Police said they were patrolling the area when they spotted a Ford Econoline minivan in the restaurant parking lot and the license plate returned as belonging to a Ford Ranger pickup. That's when they contacted the occupant identified as Curry. A routine records check revealed that Curry was wanted on a Medford felony warrant for 1st-Degree Theft as well as two Washington County warrants for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Theft and Failure to Report as a Convicted Sex Offender. A pipe found in his pocket contained methamphetamine residue. Curry was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants plus a new charge of Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Shoplifting Deli Meat from Downtown Supermarket

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for multiple crimes last weekend after he was caught shoplifting at a downtown supermarket. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the Safeway on SE 7th Street on Sunday at 5:32 p.m.. Police said 30-year-old Jacob Levi Reeder was initially called in as a trespasser at the supermarket. They said he left the property before they arrived, but a worker advised he had stolen about $10 worth of deli meat. Reeder was located sitting across the street with the deli meat in hand. He was placed into custody and officers located a glass pipe with a white substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction. Reeder was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft, 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass and Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Corrections Client for Probation Violation after Traffic Stop

Grants Pass Police arrested a corrections client for violating terms of his probation following a weekend traffic stop on Redwood Highway. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a large box truck driven by 42-year-old Guy Caley McFarland in the 600-block of US Highway 199 on Sunday at 12:15 p.m.. Police said the truck McFarland was driving had no license plates and they stopped it as it pulled into the Pinnacle 365 store. They said the driver had a suspended license, no insurance and expired registration tags on the vehicle. His corrections officer was contacted and she requested the arrest of her client. McFarland was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Probation Violation related to arrests for Criminal Mischief and Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. He was also cited for the traffic violations and was being held on a no-bail detainer. According to GPPD, the box truck was impounded.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

GP Parks Staff Ensure Safety at Playgrounds and Enhance Urban Tree Canopy

Grants Pass parks staff have added ADA-compliant wood fiber to the Orbiter at Riverside Park to ensure a safe, more accessible play surface for all users. During routine inspections, one of the department's Certified Playground Safety Inspectors discovered and replaced broken spring cups on a teeter-totter to prevent potential injuries. Parks crews finished removing downed and damaged trees from recent storms. In partnership with the Urban Area Tree Advisory Committee, 12 new locations were identified and trees were planted along the 6th Street right-of-way, with permission from adjacent businesses. Parks officials said these trees will be watered for the next three years to establish healthy root systems, providing long-term benefits such as improved air quality, shade and enhanced urban canopy coverage at the north end of the city.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

Three New Lawsuits Filed Against Asante RV Medical Center and Former Nurse

Three new lawsuits have been filed against a regional hospital in Medford and a former nurse. The hospital could now face over $477 million in damages. Oregon Public Broadcasting reports alleged victims and their surviving relatives filed three new civil lawsuits against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center and former nurse Dani Marie Schofield last week, with more expected soon, according to attorneys representing the plaintiffs. The Jackson County District Attorney's Office charged Schofield with 44 counts of second-degree assault last year. Authorities accuse her of swapping patients' liquid fentanyl with non-sterile tap water, causing infections in dozens of patients. At least 16 of those alleged victims died. The latest complaints name James Geear, Jill Baylor and Kevin Jay Hughes as being under the care of Asante and Schofield when they developed bacterial infections. Hughes died due to his infection, according to the complaint filed by his estate. The lawsuits seek from $6 million to over $9 million in damages. Not all of those lawsuits name Schofield, who is out on $4 million bail. Her first pre-trial criminal hearing is scheduled for April 28th.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

BLM Reopens Rogue River National Recreation Trail with Path around Big Landslide

The Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management has reopened the Rogue River National Recreation Trail after crews created a path around a large landslide that occurred from heavy rains in March. Wildland firefighters from BLM's Veteran Crew 10 -- along with BLM recreation staff -- were able to clear the landslide and re-route the trail around a large boulder. The crews also removed several downed trees and addressed other issues along the first few miles of the trail near the Grave Creek Boat Landing. The Rogue River Trail is rated as difficult due to the remote nature of the path, tall cliffs, potential for downed trees, landslides and high water in creeks. Hikers may still encounter smaller landslides, unstable footing, erosion and other storm-related impacts along the trail. If you find damage on BLM lands, please report it to the Medford District Office at (541)-618-2000. The Rainie Falls Trail on the opposite of the Rogue River has also been repaired and is now open for public use.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:09AM by Sam Marsh

Mount Ashland Ski Area Announces Launch of New Mobile App with Many Features

Mount Ashland Ski Area has announced the launch of its new mobile app, which is designed to enhance the guest experience and provide real-time updates for visitors to the resort. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices through the Apple App Store and Google Play. It serves as the ultimate companion for anyone planning an adventure at Mount Ashland. Upon signing up, users will gain access to a variety of features including real-time updates on mountain operations, weather forecasts and personalized alerts based on individual interests. Guest can track ski and snowboard stats, connect with friends on the mountain and received tailored notifications to improve their overall experience. Whether carving through fresh powder or planning a future visit, the Mount Ashland Ski Area Mobile App will be an indispensable resource for all activities. For more information, please visit "mtashland.com."

Posted on 4/8/25 6:07AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Collared Nationwide Fugitive after Weekend Stop in New Hope Area

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a nationwide fugitive after a weekend traffic stop in the New Hope area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by 42-year-old Dixie Alliea Rhodes near the intersection of New Hope and Fish Hatchery roads on Saturday at 5:49 p.m.. Deputies said they stopped Rhodes for a moving violation and quickly discovered that she was wanted on a felony warrant issued by the Versailles, Kentucky, Police Department for Theft-by-Deception Over $10,000 and Possession of a Forged Instrument. After the warrant was confirmed, Rhodes was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. She was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings that will likely send her back to Kentucky.

Posted on 4/7/25 10:04AM by Sam Marsh

Friday Morning Patrol Check Resulted in Arrest of Man on GP Felony Warrant

A patrol check in the downtown area late last week led to the arrest of a man on a Grants Pass felony warrant. Grants Pass Police contacted 39-year-old Charles Lee Shull near the corner of NE B and 8th streets on Friday morning. Police said they were on patrol when they spotted Shull whom they knew was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for 3rd-Degree Robbery. He was placed into custody without incident. Shull was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 4/7/25 10:02AM by Sam Marsh

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