Local News

The Josephine County Public Health Department is making a public presentation on the Animal Shelter and Control Levy tonight in Cave Junction, with another presentation taking place in Grants Pass in early May. Citizens are invited to join Public Health Director Michael Weber and Animal Shelter Supervisor Laura Jansen for the presentations. Find out what this levy would provide for the community including sketches for the proposed new shelter facility. Afterwards, Weber and Jansen will hold an open question and answer session so Josephine County voters can be well-informed before they cast their ballots. Tonight's presentation is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Wild River Brewing and Pizza Company in Cave Junction. The second presentation will take place on Tuesday, May 7th, at 7 p.m. at the Anne G. Basker Auditorium in Grants Pass.

 

The Rogue River City Council faces a busy agenda when it gathers for its monthly meeting this evening, with much of the agenda devoted to upcoming events. The City Council will open the meeting with a proclamation naming April 25th as "Arbor Day" in Rogue River followed by consideration of a request from the Rogue River Greenway Foundation for a banner to advertise "Ride the Rogue." Two other requests will be considered including the Cal Ore River Racers marine permit endorsement for the Rooster Crow Hydroplane Race on June 29th & 30th, and a rate increase of 2.58% for solid waste collection service from Southern Oregon Sanitation. Also on the agenda are the appointment of Barb Gregory as the representative for the Rogue River Community Center and a local government recommendation for a temporary use permit for Rooster Crow Weekend at Rogue Pub-N-Putt. Ordinances under consideration include establishing regulations for mobile vending and food truck sites, and updating the Flood Damage Protection standards of the city to comply with recommendations from the State of Oregon. Resolutions under consideration include adopting rules of the Common Council and establishing fees for the city's Building Department. Tonight's meeting begins at 6 at Rogue River City Hall, 133 Broadway Street.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office arrested two suspects after an early-morning burglary call in rural Central Point on Wednesday. A Jackson County Community Service deputy took a report from 9-1-1 dispatch just after 8 a.m. yesterday of a burglary in the 5700-block of Upton Road. Several suspects were identified and tracked to an address in the 100-block of Laurelhurst Street in Central Point. The Sheriff's Office obtained a search warrant for the property and identified a female suspect. During the initial search of the property, deputies located another suspect hiding under a shed. The man did not respond to commands to come out and barricaded himself in the crawl space. After a lengthy standoff, deputies persuaded the man to give up through the use of pepper spray and a K-9. Detectives responded to assist in the arrests and search of the property. During the search, investigators discovered 10 firearms including a stolen pistol and an AR-style rifle with no serial number. Deputies also found body armor, an illegally-manufactured silencer, methamphetamine, heroin, butane honey oil, 35 pounds of processed cannabis, more than 58 grams of fentanyl and nearly $19,000 in cash. The first suspect -- 44-year-old Kelli Margaret Hernandez of Medford -- was lodged at the Jackson County Jail for Conspiracy to Commit Burglary and Hindering Prosecution. The second suspect -- 28-year-old Mickey Ray Galatz of Central Point -- was jailed on 15 charges related to the incident in addition to five outstanding warrants. Jackson County Public Information Officer Aaron Lewis said the case remains under investigation with detectives following additional leads.

 

A Grants Pass man who was arrested twice for three criminal incidents in one day this week found himself back behind bars early yesterday. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 46-year-old David Israel McDonald at the Josephine County Fairgrounds at 12:47 a.m. Wednesday. Police said McDonald was arrested on Tuesday for vandalizing a vehicle on SW Ballinger Drive, ripping out plants at The Flying Lark and trying to steal a propane tank out of a vehicle in the Fred Meyer parking lot. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges including Criminal Mischief, Criminal Trespass, Disorderly Conduct, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and Petty Theft. According to the report, McDonald was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for an unspecified medical issue late Tuesday night. While being assessed by medical staff, he became uncooperative and engaged in violent and tumultuous behavior. He walked out of the hospital after making several threats to employees, yelling at everyone and throwing items around the emergency room. The suspect made his way into the Josephine County Fairgrounds by telling a horse trainer that he was cowboy. He was eventually located by officers, placed into custody and lodged in jail without bail on an additional charge of Disorderly Conduct. He was also trespassed from the local hospital and the fairgrounds.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man this week for roughing up workers at a church food distribution center. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 43-year-old male subject at the Seventh Day Adventist Food Center on NE 9th Street on Tuesday afternoon. Police said the man got into an argument with staff at that location, threw potato salad at an employee and punched the employee several times. He also reportedly kicked another employee twice. No one was seriously hurt. According to the report, the man admitted to using methamphetamine and he was found with two meth pipes which were seized for destruction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Physical Harassment plus the resulting Probation Violation related to previous arrests for Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Mischief and Petty Theft. He was also cited to appear in court for the drug violation and he was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on an outstanding felony warrant this week after she was spotted doing drugs in the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers contacted the 33-year-old woman near Connie's Hair Design in the 200-block of SE 9th Street on Tuesday night. Police said they observed the female subject smoking a controlled substance out of a glass pipe. The woman quickly put the pipe away and claimed she was smoking marijuana when it was clearly not cannabis that she was ingesting. She also refused to identify herself and then provided a false name before she was identified. Officers discovered that the woman was wanted on a Medford felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Attempt to Commit a Class B Felony. She was placed into custody without incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and she awaits transfer to the Jackson County Jail in Medford. The drug paraphernalia was seized for destruction and her personal belongings were logged for safekeeping. She and another woman were trespassed from the business.

 

The Rogue Gem & Geology Club is inviting the public to attend its Spring Gem & Mineral Show this weekend at the Josephine County Fairgrounds in Grants Pass. Admission to the show is free and it's open Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Organizers say there will be vendors selling raw, lapidary and faceted gems. There will also be crystals and fossils along with hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry. In addition, you'll find rock-hounding and mining-related items as well as demonstrators showing you how they do what they do. Don't miss the Kids' Corner, raffle, silent auction and more including polished slabs, rough rocks and minerals that glow in the dark. Whatever it is you're looking for, you'll probably find it at the Spring Gem & Mineral Show this weekend at the Josephine County Fairgrounds.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday designated four county-owned properties as surplus property and included them on a list of 10 properties that will be sold at a Sheriff's Auction in June. The Board voted unanimously to designate 24.8 acres on Lower Wolf Creek Road, 5.07 acres at 125 Ingalls Lane, 0.37 of an acre on Josephine Street and 1.7 acres at 33223 Redwood Highway as forest, public parks or recreational areas. Proceeds from the sales of these properties will benefit the Parks and Forestry Departments. Property Manager Helene Lulich testified that the majority of the 10 parcels were obtained by Josephine County through property tax foreclosures, which is a six-year process. The exact date of the Sheriff's Sale has not yet been approved. In other business, the Commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Cave Junction to apply for a Community Development Block Grant of $500,000 to repair houses for low-income residents. The program would allow individuals to apply for up to $25,000 to improve their housing. All areas outside the City of Grants Pass would be eligible for the CDBG funding. No action was taken by the Board on a possible resolution to the proposed sale of the Pipe Fork timber property near Williams. The agenda item was postponed due to ongoing negotiations to purchase the 320-acre forested parcel.

 

An Oregon Department of Transportation contractor is continuing work on the bridge retrofit project on Rogue River Highway between the cities of Rogue River and Gold Hill. ODOT officials said this project will replace the Millers Gulch, Birdseye Creek and Foots Creek bridges to improve earthquake resilience and public safety. The contractor is currently working at the Millers Gulch Bridge with flaggers directing traffic with minor delays. This project is expected to continue for the next couple of weeks when the contractor moves over to the Birdseye Creek Bridge. Around the middle of May, there will be a full closure of Highway 99 at the Birdseye Creek Bridge for approximately three to five days. During the closure, motorists are asked to find an alternate route. According to ODOT, these dates are subject to change. Check the project website for updates at "oregon.gov/odot/projects/pages/project-details.aspx?project-22290." Closures are also posted on "tripcheck.com."