Local News

The Grants Pass City Council appears ready to move forward with building a new water treatment plant in the coming year at a guaranteed maximum price of just over $113 million. During its Monday workshop session, Public Works Director Jason Canady said the guaranteed price of $113,124,314 is the base price for design and construction. However, that does not include some other factors that could eventually raise the final cost of the largest municipal project in city history substantially higher. Canady said the project team was able to lower the March 2023 base price of more than $117 million with design changes that make the new plant more efficient. For instance, there will be one main building instead of two which will lower costs for construction, pipelines and electricity. According to Canady, there is a "pretty high likelihood" that the City of Grants Pass will receive a $50 million BRIC grant for the project from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). However, the federal agency has some requirements that could raise the total cost to as much as $148 million. Financing partners for the project are Business Oregon and Oregon Emergency Management. The Oregon Health Authority's Drinking Water Program has given its initial approval for the project, but there are several small steps that need to take place before ground can be broken on the project next spring. There will be a total of 58 bid packages for the work and priority will be given to local contractors.

 

Our Foster Kids, Inc., is heartbroken to announce a significant theft from their warehouse over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The stolen items include at least 18 bicycles and many totes containing electronics intended for teenage foster children in Josephine County. This theft has deeply impacted the organization's ability to provide holiday gifts for at least 50 foster children from their lists. Our Foster Kids, Inc., Director Bea Ryan said the stolen items are crucial to their annual holiday gift program, which aims to bring joy and a sense of normalcy to local foster children who have faced difficult challenges. She said the loss of these gifts is a devastating blow to the organization and the children they serve. Ryan said the organization is reaching out to the community for support during this difficult time. Donations of new bicycles, electronics or monetary contributions will help them replace the stolen items and ensure every child receives a gift this holiday season. Our Foster Kids, Inc., is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The organization is working closely with local law enforcement to investigate this theft and recover the stolen items.

 

Rogue Community College and the Medford School District have expanded their collaborative relationship to offer high school students real-world training. The goal is to provide opportunities for career-ready certifications by equipping students with the skills needed to secure jobs in Southern Oregon and beyond. Through this initiative, Medford students are exploring healthcare career pathways, learning the technical and interpersonal skills that support jobs in that industry and connecting with local employers for practical hands-on experience, ultimately enhancing the workforce talent pipeline. Students from North Medford and South Medford high schools can now participate in healthcare programs that lead to certifications in phlebotomy and nursing assistant positions through RCC-led programs designed to address regional workforce gaps within the healthcare field. Current North Medford and South Medford high school students can contact their school counselor or Future Center for more information on how to participate.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed two men for violating their corrections agreements after they were caught fighting outside the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) Center. The Police Department reports officers arrested 43-year-old Lee Nicholas Rich and 30-year-old Mark Jeffrey Mislon for the incident in the 200-block of Redwood Highway near Bi-Mart on Saturday at 10:34 a.m.. Police said multiple units responded to the MINT building in regard to a physical fight between Rich and Mislon. Upon arrival, Mislon attempted to flee and he was determined to be the primary aggressor. Rich was struck in the nose, but he did not want to pursue charges. Rich was found to be wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for Identity Theft. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Mislon was stopped by police in the Bi-Mart parking lot. He was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct and the resulting Probation Violation. He was also being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Mislon has been arrested for violating his probation six times since June of this year.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for breaking into a shop building and a vehicle while stealing some items in the Cave Junction area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 33-year-old Timothy Rain Davis for the incident in the 200-block of North Old Stage Road on Saturday at 11:55 a.m.. Deputies said the property owner called 9-1-1 around 7:45 a.m. to report the incident they said occurred at 2:13 a.m.. The caller told dispatchers they had video of the incident and the caller's son recognized Davis as the culprit. Davis illegally entered a shop building and stole several items including a small torch and a bottle of champagne. He also entered and rummaged through a nearby pickup truck. The suspect then reportedly returned to the property and threatened to hit the complainant with the champagne bottle before fleeing into the woods. Upon arrival, deputies located Davis near the corner of Junction Avenue and West Watkins Street, placing him into custody without incident. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Menacing, 2nd-Degree Burglary, 3rd-Degree Theft, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for drug and corrections violations following a weekend traffic stop in the Redwood area. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a blue sedan driven by 38-year-old David Jacob Wise on Redwood Avenue near McDonald Lane on Saturday around 12:30 a.m.. Police said they stopped Wise for failing to maintain his travel lane and discovered that he was driving without insurance and no front license plate. The rear plate on the vehicle was expired and did not belong to the car. It was removed and seized. Wise reportedly consented to a search and was found to be in possession of 1.3 grams of methamphetamine. Additional drug-related items were found in the center console of the sedan. The meth and drug paraphernalia were also seized. Wise was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. After being warned for the traffic violations, he was being held on a no-bail detainer. His vehicle was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Wolf Creek man for drug possession after a Thanksgiving Day contact in northern Josephine County. According to OSP, troopers spotted a suspicious-looking Ford Crown Victoria that was illegally parked in the 100-block of Front Street in Wolf Creek last Thursday night. Troopers said they contacted the driver -- 44-year-old Abraham Benjamin Swanson -- and noticed drug paraphernalia sticking out of his jacket pocket. Swanson was searched and a white powdery substance which tested positive as fentanyl was located. It was seized for destruction. Swanson was cited to appear in court for Fentanyl Possession and then released.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for assaulting his landlord in the Wonder area late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 71-year-old Louis Nathaniel Smith for the incident in the 13,300-block of Redwood Highway last Friday morning. Deputies said Smith is a tenant of the victim, who was in the emergency room at Three Rivers Medical Center after being pushed down by the suspect, hitting his head in the process. The victim was treated and released for his minor injuries. According to the report, Smith broke into his landlord's house prior to the incident. No reason was given for the attack. Smith was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Assault and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man with a bad habit of stealing shopping carts in the downtown area late last week. The Police Department reports officers observed 57-year-old James Daniel Bisel pushing two shopping carts near the corner of NW D and 4th streets on Friday afternoon. Police said Bisel was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft following a recent arrest for stealing a shopping cart from a local retailer. He also had been warned for stealing a shopping cart on October 9th and November 7th. Bisel was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus two new counts of 2nd-Degree Theft. The stolen carts were returned to Fred Meyer and Home Depot. Trash inside the carts was disposed of.