Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested three people for trespassing on a property in the Merlin area late last week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident in the 2200-block of Galice Road on Friday shortly after midnight. Deputies said the property caretaker called 9-1-1 to report multiple subjects had entered the property without permission. The caller advised there have been ongoing issues with subjects entering the property and stealing equipment. Upon arrival, deputies located three subjects they identified as 40-year-old Joshua John Brower, 33-year-old Joshua Michael Roberts and 28-year-old Kelsie Leigh Tamblin near a barn on the property. All three were placed into custody. Brower, Roberts and Tamblin were lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after a weekend traffic stop near the South Y. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a wrong-way driver near the intersection of the Grants Pass Parkway and Rogue River Highway on Saturday around 2 a.m.. Police said they observed a driver they later identified as "36-year-old Christopher J. Matson" merge his vehicle onto Redwood Highway from the intersection of Williams Highway northbound toward South 6th Street, which is one-way traffic in the opposite direction. He then made a U-turn at East Park Street back onto southbound Highway 238 where he eventually stopped. Upon contact with Matson, officers said he displayed numerous indicators of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. He was ultimately lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. His vehicle was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a Grants Pass motorist for causing a weekend crash on the east side of the city. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision at the intersection of the Grants Pass Parkway and NE Agness Avenue at 4:37 p.m. Saturday. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated a Ford Escape driven by 35-year-old Andrea Alyce Brundige made an illegal U-turn and crashed into a Subaru Impreza driven by a 70-year-old Grants Pass woman. No injuries were reported and neither vehicle was towed. According to OSP, Brundige was uncooperative and did not wish to answer any questions about the wreck while the other woman was very cooperative and told troopers what happened, which matched observations and evidence. Following the investigation, Brundige was cited for an unspecified violation.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley man on a total of 11 charges along with an outstanding warrant after he allegedly threatened a woman and others with a hatchet near Selma. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 37-year-old John Michael Cavanaugh for the incident in the 17,000-block of Redwood Highway on Friday at 6:05 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report her ex-boyfriend -- Cavanaugh -- not only threatened to assault people with a hatchet, he also threatened to burn down the house with all the occupants -- including a 4-year-old child -- inside. Further investigation revealed that Cavanaugh was upset that his ex-girlfriend was cooking meat that he believed belonged to him and that she was not going to share. He began yelling and cussing at her, left the house and returned with a hatchet that he raised in a threatening manner. He damaged the siding on the porch with the ax. Cavanaugh took off on a dirt bike, but he was stopped and placed into custody a short time later. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of 1st-Degree Burglary, three counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, four counts of Menacing and two counts of Criminal Mischief plus an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. He was being held without bail pending his court arraignment this afternoon.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on an outstanding felony warrant during a weekend welfare check near the Josephine County Fairgrounds. The Police Department reports officers arrested 62-year-old Stephen Edwin Evans near the corner of Redwood Highway and Redwood Avenue at 6:59 p.m. Friday. Police said they were alerted to a male transient sleeping next to the roadway right in front of Grants Pass Downs. Callers said the man's feet were dangling off the curb and they were concerned that a vehicle might hit him. Officers contacted Evans who was in possession of an Idaho identification card. They discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. He was placed into custody without incident. Evans was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held without bail. His backpack and bicycle were logged into evidence for safe-keeping.

 

A structure fire temporarily displaced a Cave Junction family from their home last night. The Illinois Valley Fire District, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the house fire in the 300-block of North Sawyer Road on Sunday at 7:39 p.m.. IVFD officials said arriving units observed active flames and smoke emanating from the garage of the single-family dwelling. They said fire suppression was achieved and the blaze was contained to the garage. One individual suffered burn injuries and was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. The American Red Cross was called in to assist the family due to smoke damage in their house. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Rural Metro provided coverage for the district during overhaul operations.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a weekend grass fire in the Fort Vannoy area that turned out to be a small structure fire. Rural Metro crews from the Merlin Station were alerted to the incident at the end of Cienaga Lane on Saturday at 11:52 a.m.. The property owner was unaware that the fire broke out inside their well house and completely destroyed it before spreading to the surrounding grass. A passerby who noticed flames burning on the side of the road quickly called 9-1-1. Rural Metro officials said the fire was contained to a small area and the cause of the fire that originated inside the well house was unknown. They said fire can occur at any time for a variety of reasons. As the weather gets warmer and drier, the chance of spread increases. Officials said it is important to use caution with any activity that may spark a fire and to be prepared to take action should a fire break out.

 

Following an Arbor Day tree planting at Eckstein Park and an executive session this morning, the Grants Pass City Council will hold a busy workshop session. The executive session is being held to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspections and to consult with the city attorney on current or likely litigation. It is closed to the public and media. During the workshop, the City Council will hear presentations from Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc., Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce, Rogue Community College Small Business Development Center and Main Street Grants Pass. Also on the agenda are a budget policy update, a reconfiguration of the non-bargaining salary schedule and Caveman Pool followed by a review of the agenda for Wednesday night's regular meeting. Today's workshop begins at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

The Cave Junction City Council will be considering contracts, three resolutions and three ordinances during its regular meeting tonight. Following a Public Works Update, the Consent Agenda and Public Comment, the City Council will consider a contract for Josephine County Sheriff's Office services at $199,000 for the next year -- a 1.4% increase over the current contract. Another contract for the rental of the Cave Junction Substation to the Josephine County Sheriff's Office is $446.33 per month including utilities. There are three resolutions on the agenda: one declaring a property on Laurel Road a public nuisance, one authorizing the receipt of grant funds for shading at Jubilee Park's spray pad, and another setting system development and storm water charges. Three ordinances pertain to sidewalk construction and repairs, increasing balances for payment agreements, and amending the system development and storm water fees. Tonight's meeting starts at 7 at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.