Local News

Grants Pass Police apprehended a fugitive wanted on a statewide felony warrant early yesterday following a report of suspicious activity in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers arrested 56-year-old Matthew Carl Montgomery in the 200-block of SW K Street on Tuesday around 6 a.m.. Police said they were alerted to two male subjects inside a Volkswagen Bug that was parked along the street. The caller told dispatchers that one of the men had a crowbar or pipe of some kind. Upon arrival, officers contacted Montgomery and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a past conviction for a weapon-related offense. He was placed into custody without incident. Montgomery was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. His male companion was ordered to move along.

 

A Josephine County Jail inmate was served with two outstanding warrants this week. The Sheriff's Office reports jail deputies served 33-year-old Tyler Austin Bryant with warrants issued by the Medford Police Department and Jackson County Sheriff's Office on Monday night. The Medford warrant charges Bryant with Felony 1st-Degree Theft while the Jackson County warrant charges him with failing to appear in court for Driving While Suspended. Jail records show Bryant was already serving a 116-day sentence for Felony Parole Violation. He remains in custody on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man on outstanding warrants this week during an incident on Redwood Highway in Wilderville. OSP reports troopers stopped with two suspicious vehicles at the intersection of US Highway 199 and Old Redwood Highway on Monday morning. Troopers said a male subject identified with one of the vehicles was identified as 65-year-old Timothy K. Cooper and he was found to have multiple warrants for his arrest. He was wanted for Driving While Suspended and two bench warrants for failing to appear in court. Cooper was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. The narcotic was seized for destruction. Cooper was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants while charges of Meth Possession and Supplying Contraband were referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District extinguished a large vehicle fire in Cave Junction late yesterday. On Tuesday at 5:04 p.m., IVFD crews were dispatched to what was reported to be a structure fire in the 200-block of Pinewood Way. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a fully-involved large recreational vehicle fire. The fire was quickly put out and will be subject to a thorough investigation. There were no injuries reported, but the RV was totally destroyed. IVFD officials said the initial structure fire response level necessitated the allocation of resources from Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response. However, those resources were canceled.

 

Two elderly Cave Junction residents escaped injury when their vehicle crashed on Redwood Highway near Kerby. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck on US Highway 199 at Reeves Creek Road on Monday afternoon. Troopers said the preliminary investigation indicated the 87-year-old male driver of a Chevrolet pickup fell asleep at the wheel and the vehicle left the highway. According to OSP, the male driver and his 81-year-old wife were not hurt. The driver made arrangements for his own tow back to Cave Junction.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners faces a packed agenda for its weekly business session this morning. The Board will make decisions on a total of 11 items under Administrative Actions. The Commissioners will consider nominations for Josephine County Merit Awards plus a Letter of Support and Commitment to Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council. Also on the agenda are the Annual Sale of County Surplus Vehicles and a contract with JB Steel, LLC. The Board will also consider three orders including Suspending Acceptance of Mineral Exploration Permits and Mining Leases, Establishing a Josephine County Voluntary Resignation Program, and canceling the weekly business session next week. In other business, there are three resolutions dealing with Resetting Appointments and Terms for the Josephine County Budget Committee, the Josephine County Rural Planning Commission and Illinois Valley Airports Advisory Committee. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office has been receiving numerous reports of people being scammed into buying Bitcoin. The bad actors of these scams are very convincing. Scams include -- but are not limited to -- PayPal, Norton Antivirus and Lifelock pretending to be financial institutions and/or law enforcement. Scammers may want access to your computer, claim you have warrants or say a loved one is in trouble. They may also provide convincing documents showing deposits into your accounts or give phony stories that they will be in trouble or lose their jobs. The Sheriff's Office understands that hearing facts about your life, home or family can be unnerving and can aid in scammers' attempt to appear legitimate. Much of your information is readily available online such as full names, birth dates, phone numbers, addresses and photos of your home. If you are contacted by one of these scammers take note of these "red flags" and stop. Talk to your bank, law enforcement or a trusted friend before withdrawing money or making deposits. If someone insists that Bitcoin or gift cards are the only form of payment that is accepted, then something is definitely wrong. You can report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at "ReportFraud.ftc.gov."

 

The Grants Pass City Council is set to adopt allowable locations for camping as well as appoint new members to the Council and Budget Committee during its regular meeting tonight. The lone Council Action item is a resolution adopting allowable locations for public camping. During a recent workshop, the panel indicated its preference for four sites with the goal of ending the 14-day injunction against enforcing rules for public camping. The temporary injunction is related to a lawsuit filed against the City of Grants Pass by Disability Rights Oregon and the Oregon Law Center. The Council is also expected to appoint one person to the Ward 3 position vacated by Dwayne Yunker and choose from six candidates to fill two positions on the City Budget Committee. The Consent Agenda includes one resolution authorizing the City Manager to authorize local franchise haulers to receiving compensation for Recycling Modernization Act compliance efforts and another resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract for City Hall Exterior Repairs and Roof Replacement. Tonight's meeting starts at 6 in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

The Grants Pass School District is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new accessible playground for its Early Learning Program on Thursday. The ceremony is set for tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. to celebrate this milestone for the local school district's Pre-K program. In Fall 2023, District 7 launched an early learning program as a way to provide preschool-aged children with a strong foundation for their educational journey. The program is funded entirely by grants and donations as early learning programs do not receive state funding like K-12 education does. Grants Pass started with free parent-child playgroups in the 2023-24 school year. This year, the early learning program expanded and the district is now able to offer free preschool in addition to playgroups, parenting workshops, kindergarten readiness classes and preventive health screenings. The preschool program is accommodating 36 children in its first year, and bringing together children with and without disabilities into one inclusive classroom.