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Pedestrian Struck and Killed by GP Motorist on Highway 140 in Jackson County

A pedestrian was struck and killed on Highway 140 in Jackson County last week. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Highway 140 near Dean Creek Road early last Thursday morning. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Chevrolet Silverado driven by 44-year-old Anthony Joseph Grubb of Grants Pass struck a pedestrian identified as 68-year-old Robert Allen Dishman of Yreka, California, while Dishman was crossing the highway. According to OSP, Dishman was declared deceased at the scene while Grubb was not injured. Highway 140 was impacted for about 2-1/2 hours during the on-scene investigation and Grubb remained there to cooperate with investigators. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation. OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Oregon Department of Transportation.

Posted on 11/5/24 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Motorist for DUII & More after Weekend Crash on Highway 238

Grants Pass Police jailed a motorist for impaired driving and more after he caused a violent weekend crash on Williams Highway that injured a total of five people. The Police Department reports officers, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, Rural Metro Fire Department, Jackson County Fire District #1, American Medical Response, Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Transportation all responded to the two-vehicle collision on Highway 238 near Fruitdale Drive late Saturday night. Police said 35-year-old Matthew Dowell was driving a Honda Odyssey northbound on Williams Highway when he claimed an opposing vehicle turned in front of him. The subsequent crash with a Nissan Pathfinder resulted in the Pathfinder flipping over and trapping the occupants who had to be extricated by emergency personnel. Dowell's passenger and three out of four occupants of the Nissan were transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of their injuries -- some were serious. Dowell had no serious injuries and he displayed signs of impairment at the scene. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the hospital for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of impairment. Dowell was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Felony 2nd-Degree Assault, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. He was being held without bail. Both vehicles were towed, with the heavily-damaged Honda being impounded.

Posted on 11/5/24 6:02AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Young Utah Men for Trying to Steal Walmart Camping Items

Grants Pass Police arrested two young men from Utah last weekend after they tried to steal items from Walmart. The Police Department reports officers responded to the shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Sunday around 1:25 p.m.. Police said 20-year-old Kolton Leo Hubbs and 19-year-old Maxwell Dennis DeGraff entered Walmart to get camping supplies. They intentionally swapped tags on a cooler to lower the price and also did not scan multiple items at checkout. Both passed all points of sale, depriving Walmart of nearly $200 in merchandise. After being detained by loss prevention, DeGraff admitted to swapping the tags to "save some money." Turns out the crime will cost the men some additional cash. Hubbs and DeGraff were lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft.

Posted on 11/5/24 6:01AM by Sam Marsh

Glendale Woman Hurt after Rolling Car off Interstate 5 in Sunny Valley Area

A Glendale woman was injured last weekend when she rolled her vehicle on Interstate 5 in the Sunny Valley area. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 73 on Sunday at 8:14 a.m.. Troopers said the 30-year-old female motorist was driving a Honda Accord when she lost control of the vehicle on wet pavement, causing the car to slide off the freeway, rollover and crash. According to OSP, the woman was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of suspected minor injuries. Her wrecked car was towed to Grants Pass. No citations were issued.

Posted on 11/5/24 5:59AM by Sam Marsh

No Changes for Rural Metro from Future Sale to More Fire-Focused Company

Rural Metro Fire Department will soon have a new parent company. Global Medical Response and Brindlee Fire Services have announced the signing of a definitive agreement to the acquisition of Rural Metro, formerly Valley Fire Service. Following completion of this acquisition, Rural Metro Fire will join Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, Company Two, Firetrucks Unlimited, Solomon Safety, FireFleet and other leading fire service companies. Brindlee is a diversified fire industry company headquartered in Alabama. With more than 70 years of service across 20 states, Rural Metro offers a variety of fire protective services to rural and unincorporated communities including fire prevention and suppression, emergency services, rescue and medical aid at motor vehicle accidents, and home safety checks. Rural Metro's National Fire Chief Mike Ragone said the acquisition moves them from management by a large medical service provider to a more fire-focused team. He said there will be no noticeable changes for Rural Metro in Josephine County. American Medical Response in Josephine County will also remain status-quo and continue as a Global Medical Response company.

Posted on 11/5/24 5:58AM by Sam Marsh

USDA & OSU Veterinary Labs Confirm Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza at Local Farm

The US Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) has confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a backyard flock of geese in Jackson County. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in Jackson County. Samples from the flock were first taken to the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University for testing. OSU confirmed the presence of HPAI on October 30th and NVSL confirmed the results two days later. According to the USDA, HPAI detections are higher in the fall and spring because wild birds spreading the virus are migrating to their seasonal homes. Since May 2022, three commercial poultry flocks and 38 backyard flocks have been affected in Oregon. The Oregon Department of Agriculture's State Veterinarian placed the Jackson County farm under quarantine and a team from ODA and USDA humanely euthanized all poultry on the property. None of the animals on the property entered the food supply chain nor were they intended for the commercial food market. It's important to note that when properly prepared and cooked, HPAI does not affect meat or egg products, and these food items remain safe. Death or illness among domestic birds should be reported immediately to the Oregon Department of Agriculture by calling 1-(800)-347-7028.

Posted on 11/5/24 5:38AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine County Voter Turnout Solid on Eve of November 5th General Election

Voter turnout in Josephine County remained solid on the eve of Election Day. The Josephine County Clerk's Office on Monday evening reported a local turnout of 57.39%. Out of 71,184 registered voters, 40,853 had returned their ballots. Josephine County voters will decide races for two out of three seats on the Board of Commissioners as well as the race for Treasurer. Grants Pass and Cave Junction voters will decide two-person races for mayor along with city council positions. In addition, there are four money measures on the November 5th ballot. The deadline for completed ballots is today at 8 p.m., but postmarks will be counted as long as they arrive at the Clerk's Office by November 12th. Voters can also hand-deliver their ballots by 8 p.m. to designated drop-boxes at the Clerk's Office, the north and south entrances to the Courthouse, the back parking lot of the Grants Pass library branch, Washington Mutual Bank on Union Avenue, Ray's Food Place in Merlin, Hidden Valley Market in Murphy and Cave Junction City Hall. Be sure to vote and then tune in for "live" coverage of the 2024 General Election tonight on the Grants Pass Broadcasting Corporation.

Posted on 11/5/24 5:35AM by Sam Marsh

GPHS Marching Band & Color Guard Crowned Champions of Pacific Northwest in Eugene

The Grants Pass High School Marching Band & Color Guard has once again been crowned champions of the Pacific Northwest. GPHS picked up the first place trophy last weekend at the Northwest Marching Band Championships at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. The GPHS group scored 92.25 in the finals at the competition, edging the 91.80 posted by Ridgeline and the 88.10 posted by Kamiak/Sherwood. The local band won High General Effect, High Music, High Visual and High Color Guard while Ridgeline won High Percussion. It was an amazing day for the Grants Pass High School band family who would like to thank everyone who helped them along their way to the top this fall. We Are GP!

Posted on 11/5/24 5:33AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Motorist for DUII & More after Weekend Crash on Highway 238

Posted on 11/4/24 10:46AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man on Three Warrants after Weekend Traffic Stop on Bike

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on statewide, outside and local warrants after performing a weekend traffic stop on a bicycle. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a bike ridden by 29-year-old Travis Tyler Bradley-Martin on the Grants Pass Parkway near NE Beacon Drive on Friday at 11:45 p.m.. Police said they stopped Bradley-Martin for no bicycle light and he provided a false name. After confirming his true identity, they discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a conviction for Identity Theft, a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for eight counts of Identity Theft, and a Josephine County warrant for two counts each of 2nd-Degree Forgery and 2nd-Degree Theft. Bradley-Martin admitted without prompting that he had a concealed syringe with fentanyl hidden in his sock. He also admitted that he lied about his identity to avoid being arrested. Bradley-Martin was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the three warrants plus new charges of Fentanyl Possession and Furnishing False Information to Police. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 11/4/24 10:45AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Domestic Violence against Girlfriend at SW Home

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for committing domestic violence against his girlfriend at a home in the southwest part of the city. The Police Department reports officers placed the 34-year-old male subject into custody at GPPD headquarters on NE 7th Street on Saturday at 7:44 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 early Saturday morning to report she and her boyfriend were involved in a dispute that escalated to the man strangling her and slapping her before fleeing in his vehicle. She was not seriously hurt, but the Women's Crisis Support Team responded and transported her to a safe location. Officers later contacted the subject by phone and he agreed to speak with them at the police station. He was arrested after admitting to the physical confrontation with his girlfriend at the home in the 900-block of SW Blackberry Lane. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Strangulation, Domestic Menacing and Domestic Harassment. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 11/4/24 10:44AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Offender for Pointing Fake Gun at Vehicles from Church

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known criminal offender for yet another incident of bad behavior at a downtown area church over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to suspicious activity on Friday afternoon at St. Luke's Episcopal Church at the corner of NW 5th and D streets. Police said an employee called 9-1-1 to report a male subject was hiding at the church with a large gun under his jacket. The caller said he tried to come into the church, but then walked off before he was observed pointing the firearm at random vehicles from a position of cover. Officers arrived on scene and challenged 30-year-old Dustin Michael Fontana, placing him into custody at gunpoint. He was found to be in possession of a realistic-looking Air-Soft pellet gun and it was seized as evidence. Fontana was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and he was being held without bail.

Posted on 11/4/24 10:43AM by Sam Marsh

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