Local News

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Awards Banquet on Friday night, bringing together nearly 400 distinguished guests including local business owners, elected officials and community partners for an evening of celebration, inspiration and recognition at the Boys & Girls Club. The event honored outstanding individuals and businesses that have made large contributions to the region's economic growth and community development. The Chamber presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mary Lou Thomason of Galice Resort and board member of the Boys & Girls Club. The Community Spirit Award went to Dave Warren of Cascade Mini Storage, while the Spears Commitment to Health Award went to Mid-Rogue Imaging. Shauna Bland of Grants Pass High School received the Fostering a Legacy for the Future Award and the Rising Star Award went to Donnie Thomason of The Human Bean. The Large Business Award was presented to Flores Family Restaurants. The Small Business Award went to Tammie Schmidt of Rogue Solutions Accounting. Doug Bradley of Holiday Inn Express was named Person of the Year while the Architecture Award went to The Growler Guys Tap House.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters fought frightfully cold weather while protecting the community last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 504 calls for service along with 206 officer-initiated calls last week which resulted in 36 arrests, 43 citations, 37 warnings and six highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 48 traffic stops in the city and they made 13 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. There was no report available for the GPPD Community Response Team (CRT). Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 99 calls last week including 45 for emergency medical service, one report of fire or smoke, 16 lift assists, five rescue situations, six assists to other agencies and four false alarms. Firefighters also performed 19 business inspections, led two education/prevention programs and assisted the public at least three times. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 937 emergency calls last week.

 

The Grants Pass City Council will conduct candidate interviews and select a committee liaison before holding an executive session on Tuesday. Today's workshop was postponed one day due to the observance of Presidents Day. The City Council will open the workshop with interviews of candidates for the Grants Pass Budget Committee. The Council will then interview candidates for the open seat representing Ward 3 of Grants Pass. Former Council member Dwayne Yunker resigned last month in order to take care of his responsibilities in the Oregon House of Representatives. The panel will select a Council liaison for the Public Safety Advisory Committee. Following the workshop, Mayor Clint Scherf will convene a Special Meeting in Executive Session. According to the agenda, the closed-door meeting will center on confidential labor negotiations. Tuesday's workshop begins at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man early yesterday for driving a stolen vehicle. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a 1997 Honda Accord driven by 60-year-old Douglas Don Cleveland, II, in an unspecified location on Thursday at 1:40 a.m.. The Sheriff's Log provided limited information on the incident, but deputies and the Oregon State Police were involved in the traffic stop in which it was learned that the Honda had been reported stolen by the Grants Pass Police Department. Cleveland was charged with Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle because it could not be proven that he committed the automobile heist. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. Troopers stood by while the stolen car was returned to its registered owner. The license plates had been removed from the vehicle.

 

The Oregon State Police was investigating a vehicle theft that allegedly occurred last night on Redwood Highway at Riverbanks Road. OSP reports troopers received a report of a stolen Acura MDX near the intersection of US Highway 199 and State Route 260 on Thursday shortly after 8 p.m.. Few details were available, but a 50-year-old Grants Pass woman made the report and the vehicle was described as gray with Oregon license plate "157MVN." Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to dial *OSP.

 

A Josephine County Jail inmate was served with a statewide felony warrant upon his arrival at the Grants Pass facility early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, 36-year-old Adam Joseph Jensen arrived at the jail on NE F Street via prisoner transport on Thursday around 6:40 a.m.. It was not disclosed where Jensen had been arrested, but he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for Indecent Exposure. He allegedly exposed himself to both adults and children. Jensen was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on two outstanding warrants yesterday after she was caught stealing a small toy from a local supermarket. The Police Department reports officers responded to the petty theft incident at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Thursday around 12:45 p.m.. Police said 29-year-old Brittanie Marie Fazzone concealed a toy valued at $3 from WinCo and tried to leave the store without paying for it, but she was detained by loss prevention. She was described as "cooperative." Upon arrival, police discovered that Fazzone was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and a Multnomah County warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. Fazzone was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants plus a new charge of 3rd-Degree Theft. She was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Central Point woman for impaired driving after she wrecked her vehicle on Riverbanks Road late yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle crash near milepost 20 of State Route 260 on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation determined that a 53-year-old woman was driving a Ford Explorer when she lost control of the SUV and crashed into an embankment. They said she sustained minor injuries and denied medical treatment. According to OSP, the woman showed obvious signs of impairment and -- due to her extreme level of intoxication -- she was unable to stand or perform sobriety tests. She was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center where a search warrant was obtained and a legal blood draw was performed. The suspect was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. She was cited to appear in court and released to hospital staff. Her wrecked SUV was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Cave Junction woman for impaired driving last night after she crashed into a ditch along Redwood Highway. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 31 of US Highway 199 on Thursday at 6:13 p.m.. Troopers said the 66-year-old woman was driving a Saturn Ion when she missed her turn and the car ended up nose-first in a ditch. Traffic control measures were implemented to maintain traffic flow and keep the highway open. The woman showed signs of impairment at the scene and she was taken to the Cave Junction Substation where she provided a urine sample for analysis. It was suspected that she was driving under the influence of narcotics. The suspect was charged with suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances and Reckless Driving. She was cited to appear in court and released, but her car was impounded.