Local News

Firefighters knocked down a weekend blaze at the Merlin Transfer Station. Rural Metro Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to reports of a fire burning in vegetation and a wood pile at the facility located on Merlin Landfill Road near Merlin. Rural Metro officials said arriving units found the fire was confined to the wood pile, but extensive mop-up would be necessary. Smoke was visible across the Merlin area. In a Saturday afternoon update, Rural Metro reported the fire was out and it was controlled at just 1/10th of an acre.

 

US Senator Jeff Merkley was in Medford on Friday to tour New Spirit Village, an innovative affordable homeownership development that is using high-density planning to maximize space and encourage community connections. New Spirit Village also follows a Land Trust model that helps families build equity while preserving affordability. As a former leader for a chapter of Habitat for Humanity in Oregon, Senator Merkley is a champion for seeking new ways to take on the housing and affordability crises impacting the state and the nation. Merkley has pushed for building affordable housing and introduced the "End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act" legislation that would kick Wall Street hedge funds out of the business of owning single-family homes. During the event, Merkley got an inside look at the homes in New Spirit Village and spoke with prospective homeowners -- including a family impacted by the 2020 Almeda Fire.

 

As the seasons change, Grants Pass police officers and firefighters have remained remarkably consistent with strong community protection. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 681 calls for service along with 235 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 42 arrests, 36 citations, 48 warnings and seven highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 59 traffic stops and they made 20 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 154 contacts with potential troublemakers while arresting three people, citing seven more and warning 24 others. The CRT unit also trespassed five individuals and posted 61 transient camps. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 129 calls last week including 53 for emergency medical service, eight reports of fire or smoke, 31 lift assists, 15 rescue situations, 24 assists to other agencies and four false alarms. Firefighters also performed six business inspections, led four education/prevention programs, assisted the public 31 times and properly installed two child car seats. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,287 emergency calls in addition to 779 calls for non-emergency service.

 

US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with US Representatives Andrea Salinas and Val Hoyle have announced crucial federal investments for technology to support local law enforcement. These investments include emergency response and crime prevention in Benton, Lake and Marion counties along with the City of Medford. The funding from the US Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services Technology and Equipment Program will give these communities the resources needed to acquire effective equipment, technologies and interoperable communications that assist in responding to and preventing crime. The City of Medford is receiving $880,000 to acquire a Mobile Incident Command Center which will provide a central hub for coordinating emergency response and significantly enhance regional resiliency throughout the Rogue Valley. Medford Mayor Randy Sparacino said the federal lawmakers from Oregon understand the need for such a regional asset which will enhance response to future events by providing a unified command structure, coordination of resources, radio interoperability, and a protected location for personnel and equipment.

 

Tickets are now on sale for a first-of-its-kind Halloween celebration at Mount Ashland. The local ski area is hosting "A Haunting on Mount Ashland" from October 18th through October 20th. There are two options to choose from. Early in the evening, there will be a Chairlift Trick-or-Treat which Mount Ashland officials say is ideal for families. It includes a ride up Sonnet where children will be greeted by ghostly guests with treats in hand as they walk the haunted trail in daylight. Later in the evening comes The Abyss, which is for braver thrill-seekers. It's also a lift ride, but with more sinister secrets to be revealed. Tickets for either event are $25 for anyone 13 and older and $15 for kids 12 and under. All tickets include free popcorn and a drink. Mount Ashland also promises food trucks, great drinks, "live" music and more. Tickets are available now on the Mount Ashland website at "mtashland.com."

 

Two people were hurt -- one critically -- in a motor vehicle accident last night in Selma. The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash in the 1,000-block of Reeves Creek Road on Friday at 9:51 p.m.. Arriving units found a vehicle with extensive damage after striking a tree. The two occupants had to be extricated from the wreckage with the "jaws of life." One patient was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center while the more critical patient was taken to IVFD Station #2 in Selma and transferred to a Mercy Flights helicopter that flew them to a local trauma center. Jerry's Towing hauled the heavily-damaged vehicle to Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of the wreck.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed two people for drug and weapon crimes this week after a traffic complaint in the northwest part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested 35-year-old Christopher Aaron Trujillo and 19-year-old Annelize Paula Rosado near the corner of NW Hawthorne and Loughridge avenues on Thursday afternoon. Police said a motorist reported that he was nearly hit by a dark-blue Chevrolet SUV driven by Trujillo who pulled off the roadway. The suspect and his young female companion were passed out in their vehicle upon the arrival of officers. Officers observed a drug tooter with a brown sticky residue between the driver and passenger seats. Trujillo and Rosado were detained during a consent search that uncovered additional drug paraphernalia with the brown substance that later tested positive as fentanyl. Small amounts of methamphetamine were also found in the SUV and a search of Trujillo's backpack located a set of brass knuckles. Since Trujillo is a convicted felon, he was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, Fentanyl Possession and Possession of Meth. He was being held without bail. Rosado was jailed for Possession of Fentanyl, but she was released later in the day.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client on a local felony warrant this week. The Police Department reports officers were summoned to the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Thursday afternoon. Police said they were alerted that 48-year-old Ivaylo Todorov Gavanazov was there to meet with his corrections officer. They were notified because the man was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Unlawful Marijuana Possession and Unlawful Appropriation of Water. Gavanazov was wanted in connection with an illegal cannabis grow that was raided by the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) in 2023. He was not aware he was about to be arrested. Gavanazov was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrant. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man this week for misusing the local emergency communications system. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies placed 40-year-old Casey Allen Wilke into custody late Thursday night. Deputies said Wilke called 9-1-1 a total of 48 times between July 1st and October 3rd of this year. They said he also called the Sheriff's Office non-emergency line numerous times as well. The most recent incident occurred Thursday when Wilke called 9-1-1 several times and hung up after whispering "help me," stating that he'd been shot and moaning in the background. The suspect had been warned numerous times for calling 9-1-1 without an actual emergency, but he continued to call. This time, deputies were able to track down Wilke and arrest him. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Misuse of 9-1-1.