Local News

The Oregon State Police arrested a California man for felony drug possession following a weekend traffic complaint on Interstate 5 in the North Valley area. OSP reports troopers made contact with a Dodge Ram pickup occupied by 47-year-old Daniel Paul Ellis of Bakersfield along the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 63 on Saturday at 11:19 p.m.. Troopers said they responded to multiple calls regarding a driving complaint in which the driver of a pickup had multiple traffic violations. They said Ellis was found passed out behind the wheel. Upon further investigation, they discovered that he was in possession of a felony amount of methamphetamine. It was seized. Ellis was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Meth Possession. His pickup was towed to an impound yard.

 

The Oregon State Police cited an Eagle Point motorist after he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed his vehicle off Redwood Highway in Cave Junction. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 27 of US Highway 199 on Saturday at 8:10 a.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicated 26-year-old Angel Ray Hurtado was driving a Dodge Ram 350 pickup when he fell asleep at the wheel and left the highway. He struck the "Buds Junction" sign, clipped a power pole and destroyed 11 mail boxes as well as six panels of guard rail. Somehow, he was not hurt. Hurtado had called for his own tow prior to OSP arrival. He was cited for No Operator's License.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for threatening an Illinois Valley couple at their Selma area home late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 70-year-old Ron Ray Verdine for the incident in the 4600-block of Reeves Creek Road on Friday at 8:48 a.m.. Deputies said a woman initially called 9-1-1 at 1:13 a.m. to report a male subject on their property who stated that he was going to kill them. The caller advised she was in the house with her boyfriend and the subject was yelling on their porch. They locked themselves in a bedroom and hid in a closet before calling for help. According to the report, Verdine threatened to shoot through their walls before he left the property. However, he returned a short time later and continued the tirade. The woman had obtained a stalking order on the man, but it had not been served on him yet. Upon arrival, deputies placed Verdine into custody and served him with the order. Verdine was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Menacing and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail and warned that if he returns to the property, he will be arrested for Contempt of Court.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a young motorist for four crimes including felony impaired driving late last week after he crashed a vehicle into a fence at a city-owned property housing a water reservoir. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews responded to the incident at the water reservoir near NW F and Fry streets at 6:09 a.m. Friday. Police said 19-year-old Aiden Isaac Stansbury was driving a Honda sedan when he lost control, crashed into and damaged about 12 feet of city-owned fencing. They said he displayed signs of impairment at the scene and his 19-year-old female passenger admitted that they had been drinking prior to the crash. Stansbury performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering and Criminal Mischief. His wrecked car was impounded. The female passenger was also intoxicated. She was charged with Minor in Possession of Alcohol and lodged at the Sobering Center.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and more after he crashed into two parked vehicles and then a ditch last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to two reports of a Dodge Ram pickup striking parked vehicles and fleeing on Friday around 10:35 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined that 47-year-old Stephen Matthew Maives first hit a Toyota RAV4 and fled south on 6th Street. A few minutes later, another witness reported seeing the large truck crash into a Ford Ranger pickup in the 600-block of Larch Road. The Ranger was pushed into the corner of the garage at the residence and caused substantial damage. According to the report, Maives fled west on Lower River Road until he crashed into a ditch and became stuck. Officers contacted him, he showed strong signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. Maives was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, two counts of Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail and his truck was impounded.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known criminal offender for her alcohol-fueled behavior at the Gospel Rescue Mission at the beginning of the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 34-year-old Morgan Delin Weber at the Mission in the 500-block of SW Foundry Street on Friday around 5:40 p.m.. Police said Weber was highly-intoxicated when she arrived at the facility and tried to start fights with staff members. They said she also spit all over the doors and windows. Prior to that incident, she reportedly hit a parked car near Debo Park and may have caused damage to the vehicle. Officers tracked down Weber on G Street between 5th and 6th streets where they placed her into custody. She was booked into the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Mischief. Weber was also trespassed from all mission facilities as well as properties on SE 6th Street, NW A Street and Booth Street.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client for dangerous behavior near the adult jail facility late last week. According to the Police Department, 39-year-old Josiah Shuvi Butler's corrections officer called 9-1-1 after observing his client jumping in front of traffic on NE F Street in front of the Josephine County Jail on Friday around 3:30 p.m.. The corrections officer reported Butler was actively in the roadway and obstructing traffic while doing squats and other exercises. Upon contact, he admitted to police that he was jumping in front of traffic because he was "playing a game." Butler was placed into custody and escorted the short distance to the jail where he was lodged for Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass staffers continuing working to prepare the city and its parks for the busy spring and summer recreation season. Last week, staff replaced nearly a dozen lights on the softball fields at Reinhart Volunteer Park, improving visibility and safety for evening games. Downtown staff also replaced a broken light globe in the Grasshopper Parking Lot to maintain consistent lighting and enhance safety. Tree planting efforts continued throughout the park system including delivery of the first two of 40 trees for the Grants Pass School District. These plantings are part of an Oregon Department of Forestry Urban and Community Forest grant awarded to the City this year to support citywide tree canopy growth and expand green spaces in underserved areas. Staff also replaced a damaged surface drain at the Grants Pass Skate Park to improve safety and functionality.

 

The Oregon Library Association (OLA) has honored Josephine Community Library Director Kate Lasky as its "2025 Librarian of the Year." Lasky received the award on Friday at the state library conference in Eugene. Helping to present the award to Lasky was Curry County Public Library Director Jeremy Skinner, who was instrumental in Lasky's honor and has served with Lasky on OLA state committees. He said: "For many librarians in Oregon, Kate Lasky is a caring friend, a cheerleader and an inspiration." He called her "a role model." Also helping to present the award and representing the local community were Josephine Community Library Foundation Director Rebecca Stoltz and Grants Pass Friends of the Library Co-chair Jennifer Roberts. Stoltz said: "Whether she's standing up to the Josephine County Board of Commissioners, defending the freedom to read or helping a teen advisory board brainstorm their next big idea, Kate's north star is always the same: equitable access to knowledge, opportunity and community." The state library banquet also featured the "Intellectual Freedom Champion" award, which was presented to Eva Pieper of the Grants Pass School District.