Local News

The Oregon State Police was looking for a Grants Pass motorist who eluded troopers after an attempted weekend traffic stop in Cave Junction. OSP reports troopers initiated a traffic stop on a Lexus R33 driven by a 30-year-old man near milepost 29 of Redwood Highway on Sunday shortly after 6 p.m.. Troopers said the motorist refused to yield and sped away from them. They did not pursue the suspect due to concerns for public safety. The driver had been observed committing traffic violations. According to OSP, the driver was identified as 30-year-old Zachary Jay Sparks and the black Lexus -- with Oregon license plate 408 GMF -- is registered to a 41-year-old Grants Pass woman. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Sparks is encouraged to dial *OSP.

 

The National Weather Service has posted a Freeze Warning for tomorrow morning in much of southwest Oregon. The Freeze Warning runs from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday in Josephine, Jackson and eastern Curry counties including portions of the Rogue, Applegate and Sams valleys. This includes the cities of Grants Pass, Rogue River, Gold Hill, White City, Eagle Point, Shady Cove, Applegate and Ruch as well as outlying areas of Medford, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Talent and Ashland. Subfreezing temperatures as low as 31 degrees are expected in these locations. Frost and freezing conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. It could also possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

 

The Grants Pass City Council has given the historic caretaker's cottage at Riverside Park a 90-day reprieve before it decides whether to demolish the building, remodel it or move it to another location. During its Monday workshop, the City Council voted 7-0 to table a decision on the Reed Building until at least mid-July. Council President Vanessa Ogier was absent. Community Development Director Brad Clark opened the discussion by reminding the Council that the caretaker's cottage was built in 1920 and that the Historical Buildings & Sites Commission (HBSC) made a motion last July to preserve the structure and designate it as a local landmark. The City Council toured the building last year and an open house was held there in October. In a citizen survey, 75% of the respondents wanted to save the structure that fronts East Park Street adjacent to the city parks maintenance yard. It's in need of extensive repairs that will be determined by a preservation expert. Clark mentioned that there may be some city funding available as well as some grant opportunities to help pay for rehabilitation of the Reed Building. Historical Buildings & Sites Commission Chair Ward Warren asked for the 90-day window for an expert to look at the structure and for the HBSC to explore possible public-private partnerships that could result in the building being used for concessions, other commercial uses or even a parks museum.

 

More than 65 dedicated individuals -- including staff, parents and community members -- came together at Grants Pass High School last weekend to engage in a two-day strategic planning workshop. According to a District 7 press release, the group worked Friday and Saturday to evaluate the current state of Grants Pass public schools and develop a set of goals to drive future progress and success for the district. After enthusiastic collaboration and discussion, the group presented the Grants Pass School Board with five key goals they would like to be the focus of D7's efforts in the coming years. The goals are improve academic and social-emotional outcomes for all students; implement behavioral supports and interventions; focus on recruitment and retention of staff; enhance Career & Technical Education, dual enrollment, post-secondary and career connections; and strengthen community engagement and partnerships. These goals will serve as a roadmap for the district's future direction and will guide decision-making as GP schools strive to provide the best possible education for their students. District staff and the Board will continue refining and finalizing the strategic plan to ensure it aligns with policy and state law. The final five-year plan is expected to be approved in August.

 

The Mount Ashland Ski Area held its last day of skiing and snowboarding on Sunday, ending its 60th anniversary winter season at the local mountain resort. The ski area finished with 95,944 guest visits this past season despite a late opening in January due to limited snowfall. As of closing day, the resort had received a total of 215 inches of snow, rebounding nicely from the late start. Mount Ashland General Manager Andrew Gast said they are incredibly grateful to the community that came up to play in the snow this year. He said their youth programs were full, and their ski and snowboard school was busy. Season passes for the 2024-25 season remain on sale throughout the month of April. As usual, they're offering significant discounts and a five-month interest-free payment plan to give recreationists all summer to pay off their passes. For more information, visit "mtashland.com." Mount Ashland is looking ahead to summer operations and projects. Beginning on Father's Day, the ski area will open the lodge for meals and snacks every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There is also a robust lineup of activities planned.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a maintenance man at a north-city motel for allegedly punching another man in the face. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 54-year-old man at the Grants Pass Travelodge on NW Vine Street on Saturday around 1 p.m.. Police said they received a call from a motel guest stating that he was punched in the face by a maintenance man on the back side of the motel. The incident was called in as an assault, but the victim was not seriously hurt. The reason for the punch was not disclosed in the daily police log. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Harassment and he was being held without bail. The victim was trespassed from the motel -- except to move his parents and their trailers off the property.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two people for violating court orders after a weekend domestic disturbance in the Wilderville area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the disturbance in the 200-block of Cheney Creek Road on Saturday shortly after 10 a.m.. Deputies said 9-1-1 dispatchers alerted them to a man who reported he woke up to someone coming into his trailer and punching him in the mouth. The caller said he had a busted lip and requested medical assistance. Upon arrival, deputies determined that the incident was the result of an altercation between a 67-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman. Both of them had restraining orders against each other and they had obviously disobeyed the court orders. Both suspects were placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. Both were held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating his probation over the weekend by vandalizing the windows at a downtown cannabis business. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the vandalism incident at Diamond Cannabis on SW 6th Street on Saturday at about 12:40 p.m.. Police said store employees reported a male transient came into the store on Friday night asking for free product. When he was refused, he got upset and returned with a metal pole which he dragged across the windows. Damage to the frosted vinyl on the front and side windows of the store was estimated to be more than $3,000. Officers searched the area, eventually located the 25-year-old suspect and placed him into custody around 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief plus Probation Violation related to numerous arrests for Petty Theft, Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for attempting to steal merchandise from Home Depot. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Mill Street on Saturday around 4:45 p.m.. Police said they were alerted to a man and woman loading a Chevrolet El Camino with stolen items -- including oil, gloves, spray paint and a shovel -- and fleeing the scene. The stolen merchandise was valued at more than $161. Officers caught up with the suspects a short distance away and detained them before determining that the 30-year-old man had committed the heist and the 44-year-old woman assisted him by loading the items into the car. All the stolen items were recovered and returned to Home Depot. Both suspects were charged with 2nd-Degree Theft. The man was lodged at the Josephine County Jail while the woman was cited to appear in court and released.