Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is joining other local law enforcement agencies in warning people not to drink or do drugs and then drive. During the Christmas and New Year holiday periods, law enforcement often sees an increase in impaired driving deaths. In fact, recent data shows December drunk driving deaths are the highest in 15 years. As a result, you'll likely see more law enforcement on the roads as part of the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, which aims to educate people about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving. If you're celebrating and drinking this holiday season, always remember to plan ahead with a sober driver to take you home. If you're the designated driver, it's important to take the role seriously and don't consume alcohol or use drugs. Safety tips include never drink and drive, and don't let someone behind the wheel if that person has been drinking. If you're hosting a gathering, make sure everyone has a sober ride home. Always wear your seat belt -- it's your best defense against impaired drivers. Always call 9-1-1 if see an impaired driver.

 

Give the gift of the outdoors and save this holiday season with the Oregon State Parks 12-month parking permit sale during December. Shoppers can buy the annual parking permits for only $25 through December 31st. They're normally $30. The permit is good for 12 months starting in the month of purchase at the 25 parks in the state that currently charge for parking. The annual permit is an even better option for frequent park visitors in 2025 when day-use parking fees will increase from $5 to $10 on January 2nd. Purchasing permits is easy. Visitors can buy them online at the Oregon State Parks store. They're also available at select park stores operated by friends' groups, park visitor centers and local businesses throughout the state. The 24-month permit is $50 and is also available at the Oregon State Parks store. The permits are transferable from vehicle to vehicle. For more information or to purchase your permit, visit "stateparks.oregon.gov."

 

A Josephine County man has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally manufacturing marijuana and filing false tax returns with the IRS. The US Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon reports 52-year-old Steven Shirley was sentenced last week to 24 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $290,291 in restitution to the IRS and $12,896 in restitution to the BLM for damage the marijuana grows caused to the environment of federally-managed land. According to court documents, Shirley began purchasing properties in the Cave Junction area in 2012 as president and minister of Earth Peoples Park, an Oregon nonprofit religious organization. After purchasing a property, Shirley leased the land to third parties and used profits from the lease to purchase more properties. By 2019, Shirley -- through Earth Peoples Park (EPP) -- owned or co-owned 21 properties in Josephine County and received at least $400,000 per year through property leases. In September 2019, investigators from the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) learned 16 of the properties had large-scale unlicensed marijuana grows. On October 21, 2019, JMET executed search warrants and seized more than 15,000 marijuana plants and nine firearms and determined that a portion of BLM lands were used for these grows.

 

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Potential Outlook for southwest Oregon and northwest California calling for rain and lots of it. The Flood Potential Outlook is for significant rises on rivers, creeks and streams as well as possible main stem river flooding for Coos, Curry, Douglas, Josephine and Jackson counties in Oregon and for Siskiyou County in California. A series of wet frontal systems will produce periods of moderate to heavy rain from tonight through this coming weekend. Significant rises are expected late this week -- but especially Saturday night into early next week. Five-day precipitation totals of two to five inches are possible over west side valleys, with five to ten inches possible in the mountains and along the coast. More than a foot of rain could fall in the Curry County coastal ranges. This rainfall will increase the risk for both flash flooding over area burn scars along with small stream and river flooding. A Flood Potential Outlook is issued when there is the potential for significant rises or flooding along rivers and streams. The exact scenario for flooding remains uncertain. Watches and warnings will be issued if this situation worsens. Grants Pass set a new precipitation record with 2.02 inches in the 24-hour period ending at 7 a.m. today.

 

Grants Pass Fire & Rescue -- in partnership with River Valley Church -- hosted a three-night training exercise last week, simulating a three-story commercial structure fire with multiple victims. With support from agencies across Josephine and Jackson counties plus some amazing volunteers, local firefighters enhanced their skills in communication, search tactics, rescue strategies and incident command. Grants Pass fire officials thank those who dedicated countless hours to planning and executing this winter exercise. Their hard work created a realistic and transformative training experience that strengthened skills, safety and collaboration between agencies. Special recognition was presented to Firefighter/Paramedic Nik Beiter, Firefighter/Engineer Tyler Bennett, Lieutenant Travis Marsh, Lieutenant Aaron Thompson, Lieutenant Josh Ward and Lieutenant Wostenberg for their exceptional efforts in making this exercise a big success. Officials said their commitment to excellence has made a lasting impact on the community.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on an out-of-state fugitive warrant during a weekend traffic stop on Redwood Highway in the Kerby area. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over a Chevrolet Astro minivan driven by 25-year-old Thomas Ray Dillion on US Highway 199 near Pugetville Road on Friday at 7:35 p.m.. Deputies said they stopped Dillion for not using his headlights and discovered that he was wanted on a Coconino County, Arizona, felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unlawful Flight from Law Enforcement in a Vehicle, Reckless Driving and Excessive Speed. After the warrant was confirmed, Dillion was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the extraditable warrant. His minivan was towed as a hazard.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing a shopping cart from a downtown supermarket early yesterday after a traffic complaint near the Skate Park. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the corner of SE M and Mill streets on Sunday at 8:27 a.m.. Police said 44-year-old Nicholas John Knox Knowles was called in as a disorderly male subject who was blocking traffic. The complainant reported the man pushed a shopping cart up against her vehicle and she waited for three cycles of traffic lights before he moved enough to allow her to proceed with a turn onto Mill Street. Upon arrival, officers contacted Knowles and found him with a shopping cart that he had taken from the downtown Safeway. He advised he found an abandoned cart on the side of the street, but he had been arrested before for stealing them. Knowles was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and he was being held without bail. Rubbish was removed from the cart and it was returned to Safeway.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a female motorist for impaired driving after she struck a young man at the Sunny Valley Campground late last week. OSP reports troopers responded to the reported crash at the campground on Old Stage Road on Friday around 2:20 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicated a Ford Thunderbird driven by a 55-year-old Sunny Valley woman struck a 19-year-old man who was standing in the driveway. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The female suspect displayed indicators of impairment by alcohol at the scene. She was placed into custody and transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she refused to provide a breath sample, so a search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. The suspect was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Endangering. It was unclear in the report if her vehicle was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Klamath Falls man for impaired driving during a weekend traffic stop on Redwood Highway near Wilderville. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Nissan Rogue driven by a 23-year-old male subject near milepost 10 of US Highway 199 on Saturday at 5:18 p.m.. Troopers said they responded to multiple calls of a reckless driver on the highway before they located the suspect vehicle and stopped it. They said the driver showed strong signs of impairment, so he was placed into custody and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. The suspect was then taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly three times the legal driving limit. He was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering and Driving While Suspended. His vehicle was impounded. The suspect's 38-year-old female passenger was even more intoxicated and she was lodged at the Sobering Center on a Detox Hold.