Local News

Memorial Day is a day when we stand united as one nation to pause and remember. We pause to honor and pay respects to those who gave their lives in service to this county, in service of freedom, in service of a more peaceful world. We remember their sacrifice, their valor, and their grace. Since the Civil War, almost 6,000 Oregonians have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to this nation. On Memorial Day, we honor them and the more than 1.2 million service members who have given their lives nationwide. Those who served in our nation's Armed Forces come from a diverse tapestry of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Our heroes are as diverse as the country itself. Like so few things in the world today, the courage to give one’s life in service to one’s nation knows no boundaries or prejudice. Men and women. Rich and poor. Educated and dropouts. Our nation's fallen heroes are counted from every race, every color, every creed, every tribe and every corner of our great nation. And on Memorial Day especially, we remember that those lost are not numbers or statistics. They are faces and names and voices that must never be forgotten. They are the loved ones who were left behind, and for whom the pain never goes away, even with the passage of time. And so, we also remember and honor the sacrifices of our Gold Star families. They, too, paid a tremendous price for the freedoms we now enjoy. It's been said that a great nation reveals itself not only by the citizens it produces, but by the citizens it honors and remembers. Today, we remember and honor our nation’s fallen heroes because they represent the very best our country has to offer. Their unwavering commitment to our nation’s greatest ideals reminds us to follow in their example, and to strive to live a life worthy of their sacrifice. May you and your loved ones enjoy a safe, happy and meaningful Memorial Day holiday.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a motorist for eight crimes after he targeted another vehicle containing a mother and her child while impaired in the southwest part of the city this weekend. The Police Department reports officers eventually arrested the 28-year-old male subject for the incident near Albertsons in the Allen Creek Shopping Center on Saturday shortly before midnight. Police said an investigation revealed that the suspect intentionally rammed the victims' vehicle numerous times as he targeted the vehicle and followed the victims while the mother was on the phone with 9-1-1 dispatchers. They said the victims were in fear for their lives as the suspect continued to ram them in the parking lot. Officers located the renegade motorist on Union Avenue a short time later and he displayed strong signs of impairment. He was uncooperative and physically resisted being placed into custody. He was eventually subdued, a search warrant was granted and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented an extreme level of inebriation. While at the hospital, the man displayed some medical concerns and he was admitted for observation. After he was cleared, he was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, two counts of Reckless Endangering, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Resisting Arrest. He was being held without bail and his vehicle was impounded.

 

A physical altercation at a Grants Pass city park landed a man in jail on multiple charges. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers were alerted to a fight between several people at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway on Friday at 8:05 p.m.. Police said the 34-year-old male subject approached his sister and demanded that she turn over her pull-behind cart, which belonged to her boyfriend. Brother and sister got into a physical altercation with the sister trying to retain her property and the brother trying to use physical force to take it. According to the report, the man struck his sister with a collapsible baton and then attempted to strike her boyfriend with a large metal pole. He also used the pole to strike his sister twice, which broke two bones in her arm. In addition, the man used to pole to threaten his own mother before he fled from the park with the cart. Police searched the area and were unable to locate the suspect until early Saturday morning when they found him at Tussing Park. He was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Robbery, Felony 2nd-Degree Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Menacing. He was being held without bail. His sister was treated at Three Rivers Medical Center.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for pushing his elderly father to the ground at a residence in the southwest part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 1500-block of SW Jordan Street on Friday at about 4:20 p.m.. Police said a 49-year-old man was intoxicated when he became involved in an argument with his family that escalated to him throwing his 82-year-old father to the ground. They said an investigation revealed that both parties struck each other with their fists before the subject grabbed his father and threw him down. According to the report, no one was seriously injured and the son had been acting aggressively toward other family members throughout the day. Responding officers interviewed family members and then placed the suspect into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment and was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for threatening an elderly person at a trailer park before interfering with the Boatnik Parade. The Police Department reports officers from the Medford Police Department assisted them in arresting the 34-year-old female subject near the corner of 7th Street and Voorhies Way on Saturday at 10:32 a.m.. Police said the woman yelled at and threatened to kill and elderly man at Royal Trailer Park before she crossed over Caveman Bridge and decided to walk into the parade. They said she caused public alarm by shouting at multiple people, slapping a National Guard Humvee and exposing her bare breast to a security guard. MPD officers watching the parade assisted the security guard and Grants Pass police with placing the unruly woman into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct.

 

A motorist was injured yesterday when he rolled his vehicle off a US Forest Service Road in the Illinois Valley. On Sunday at 1:49 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash off Briggs Valley Road at Spaulding Pond near Cave Junction. IVFD officials said the driver swerved to miss an oncoming vehicle before going off the road. They said as he was attempting to exit the vehicle, his door opened and he fell approximately 20 feet down a hill. The driver was removed from the area by IVFD personnel who used a low-angle rope rescue. He was transferred to an awaiting AMR ambulance for transport to Three Rivers Medical Center. The Sheriff's Office was investigating the crash.

 

Firefighters saved a horse operation in the Redwood area of Grants Pass yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to the reported structure fire on Boundary Lane on Sunday at about 1:15 p.m.. Arriving units found an outbuilding and motorhome on fire next to a large occupied horse barn. Crews got a quick handle on the two-alarm blaze, keeping flames from spreading to the barn, a couple of horse trailers and nearby pastures. According to Rural Metro, there were no injuries to humans or horses. Officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District extinguished two incidents on Saturday -- an RV fire near O'Brien and an escaped open debris burn near Cave Junction. On Saturday at 10:27 a.m., IVFD crews were dispatched to reports of an odor of smoke in the 30,000-block of Redwood Highway near O'Brien. While responding, emergency units were advised of a burning recreational vehicle at that address. IVFD officials said the fire was quickly extinguished and mopped up. They said the cause of the fire was under investigation. On Saturday at 12:40 p.m., IVFD units responded to a grass fire in the 4,000-block of Waldo Road near Cave Junction. Officials said arriving units found an escaped burn that had spread into the nearby hills. Patrons were attempting to put out three spot fires prior to firefighters' arrival. The spot fires were mopped up and the property owner was cited.

 

Grants Pass Fire & Rescue knocked down a small fire near the Oregon Youth Authority prison last night. On Sunday at 7:45 p.m., Grants Pass firefighters were dispatched to reports of smoke in the vicinity of the OYA facility on NE F Street. Upon arrival, Engine 7308 discovered a 1/100th of an acre fire burning in the brush behind the facility. Engine 7307, Brush 7367 and Battalion Chief 4 also responded to assist with fire control. Fortunately, forward progress was halted and there was no increase in the fire's size. Grants Pass fire officials said the cause of the fire is currently under investigation, but it is suspected to be related to recent railroad work.