Local News

The Oregon State Police jailed a Medford man for several crimes after a weekend traffic stop on the east side of Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Dodge Ram pickup driven by 42-year-old Matthew Roy Barbosa on the Grants Pass Parkway underneath the Interstate 5 milepost 55 overpass around midday Saturday. Troopers said they stopped Barbosa for traffic violations and quickly learned that the pickup had been reported stolen. The suspect was detained and a search of the vehicle located a hidden compartment filled with US currency, a digital scale and drug paraphernalia. The convicted felon was also found with unspecified weapons. According to OSP, Barbosa gave inconsistent statements about how he came to be in possession of the stolen truck and he was placed into custody. The cash, drugs, drug paraphernalia and weapons were seized as evidence. Barbosa was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Methamphetamine Possession and two counts of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. He was being held without bail. The stolen pickup was returned to a 65-year-old Grants Pass woman.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man last weekend for stealing merchandise from Walmart and being in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting call involving 33-year-old Jeffrey Allen McPeake at the store on NE Terry Lane on Sunday around 4:20 p.m.. Police said McPeake stole $121 in items from Walmart by concealing them on his person, taking them past all points of sale and exiting the store without paying. He was located at the nearby Taco Bell and placed into custody. McPeake admitted to the theft and consented to a search of his person. During the search, a container was located that contained a very large amount of a crystal substance that fielded tested positive as meth. He also had packaging materials, multiple knives and the stolen items on his person, which were seized. McPeake was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Delivery of Meth and 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail. His bicycle and belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for generating multiple calls for service regarding her strange behavior in a southeast neighborhood last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to several reports of suspicious activity involving a female subject in the area of SE I and 11th streets on Sunday around 8:45 p.m.. Police said 38-year-old Shani Renee Fedosky was running around in the area and was observed going into private residential yards and attempting to hide from law enforcement. One resident in the 500-block of I Street allowed officers to go into his backyard to check for the woman after he saw her on his Ring camera. While checking the backyard, officers saw Fedosky flee and run westbound on I Street. She continued to flee until she was cornered and placed into custody. Due to Fedosky's observed behavior and the number of calls she generated, she was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing gasoline from a vehicle parked at Options for Southern Oregon in broad daylight last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the theft complaint at the Options facility on NW Manzanita Avenue on Sunday at about 2:15 p.m.. Police said they were alerted to the theft by an Options employee who saw a man they identified as "Nathan Dion" siphoning gas from one of the Options box trucks. Officers swooped in and caught the suspect, who admitted to the petroleum heist. Dion was charged with Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and Petty Theft. He was cited to appear in court and released from custody.

 

Ashland Parks and Recreation is gradually reopening parks and facilities after last week's winter storm. Ashland Parks Director Rocky Houston said the storm caused downed trees and ice, leading to the temporary closure of all city parks due to unsafe conditions. Houston said on Monday that most parks and amenities have resumed their normal schedules. However, visitors are advised to proceed with caution as some areas may still have downed trees or branches. Closures remain in effect at Siskiyou Mountain Park, Hald Strawberry Park, Ashland Watershed Trails, Ashland Japanese Garden in Lithia Park, Lithia Park pickleball courts, Hunter Park tennis courts and certain park restrooms. For updates on the status of Ashland Parks and Recreation facilities and programs, visit "ashlandparksandrec.org."

 

The Grants Pass City Council has identified four properties that could be utilized as camping sites for the unhoused population. During its Monday workshop session, the City Council acknowledged that it has 10 days to come up with solutions to end a 14-day restraining order that prohibits the city from enforcing most restrictions on public camping. The City of Grants Pass is currently under the two-week injunction due to a lawsuit filed last month by Disability Rights Oregon and the Oregon Law Center. Grants Pass Mayor Clint Scherf opened the workshop by stating that discussions regarding homeless sites -- including locations and resting hours -- were part of an informational session only, with the information being shared with the interim City Attorney. It is hoped the information will limit the order to two weeks rather than it becoming a permanent injunction that could last until the lawsuit is settled, which could be as long as three years. Council members went through a long list of potential homeless camping sites before settling on the existing site at 712 NE 7th Street, the former hospital land at 124 NW Midland Avenue, 601 SE I Street next to the City Shops and industrial property at 2660 NW Vine Street. The first three sites are city-owned while the Vine Street site is currently for sale by a private owner.

 

The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) is hosting an event this evening that will provide an opportunity for the public to comment on a proposed increase to Avista's natural gas rates. Avista filed a request to increase overall revenues by $7.8 million. If approved, residential customers living in single-family homes using an average of 47 therms per month would see a bill increase of $4.39. Actual percentage increases will vary depending on customer type, usage and the rate paid. Avista's general rate case filing proposes a 9.2% rate increase for residential single-family, a 6.9% increase for residential multi-family, a 10.2% increase for commercial and a 9.2% increase for industrial. Avista asserts these proposed rate increases are necessary to account for investments in the system to improve capacity and safety. Avista's general rate case filing is undergoing a nearly year-long review and will be fully investigated on behalf of natural gas customers by the PUC, the Oregon Citizens' Utility Board and others. These public comment events are part of that investigation, which will conclude in August when the Commissioners rule on the request.

 

The City of Grants Pass is still seeking applicants for its Sustainable Tourism Grant Program, but the deadline is coming very soon. The Sustainable Tourism Grant Program provides between $2,500 and $5,000 in funding to promote events, activities or attractions that will increase visitation to and overnight stays in Grants Pass from more than 50 miles away from the city. Preferred projects include events that are community-focused, involve outdoor recreation and/or touring, travel and agri-tourism. Community festivals can involve music, athletics, the arts and more. Interested groups or organizations are encouraged to apply now as the deadline for this program is Wednesday, February 12th. For more information, contact Grants Pass Economic Development Specialist Dana Pearce at "dpearce@grantspassoregon.gov" or (541)-450-6014.

 

The Oregon State Police jailed a Medford man for several crimes after a weekend traffic stop on the east side of Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Dodge Ram pickup driven by 42-year-old Matthew Roy Barbosa on the Grants Pass Parkway underneath the Interstate 5 milepost 55 overpass on Saturday at 11:47 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped Barbosa for traffic violations and quickly learned that the pickup had been reported stolen. The suspect was detained and a search of the vehicle located a hidden compartment filled with US currency, a digital scale and drug paraphernalia. The convicted felon was also found with unspecified weapons. According to OSP, Barbosa gave inconsistent statements about how he came to be in possession of the stolen truck and he was placed into custody. The cash, drugs, drug paraphernalia and weapons were seized as evidence. Barbosa was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Methamphetamine Possession and two counts of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. He was being held without bail. The stolen pickup was returned to a 65-year-old Grants Pass woman.