Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was investigating a weekend crash that occurred in the Selma area. On Saturday at 6:02 p.m., deputies, the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to a single-vehicle wreck in the 1900-block of Reeves Creek Road. IVFD officials said arriving units discovered a vehicle that had collided with a tree, landing in the roadway with significant front-end damage. They said on-scene bystanders reported that the driver had departed the scene in a separate vehicle, leaving the heavily-damaged vehicle blocking the road. Sheriff's deputies contacted Jerry's Towing to remove the vehicle and haul it to Cave Junction. They planned to contact the registered owner as part of their investigation.

 

The National Weather Service has extended an Air Stagnation Advisory until at least tomorrow morning -- but most likely through next weekend. The Air Stagnation Advisory remains in effect for Josephine, Jackson, Douglas, Klamath, Lake and eastern Curry counties through 10 a.m. Tuesday. Poor air quality will continue due to a temperature inversion layer and stagnant air conditions near the surface that will continue to trap pollutants. Poor air quality may cause issues for people with respiratory problems. Persons with respiratory illness should follow their physicians' advice for dealing with high levels of air pollution during periods of stagnant air. A similar weather pattern with cold overnight temperatures and poor visibility are expected to continue through at least next weekend, with no precipitation expected in the local forecast.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters continued their strong efforts to protect the community last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 483 calls for service along with 307 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 43 arrests, 31 citations, 45 warnings and five highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported officers conducted a total of 70 traffic stops in the city and they made a total of 22 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) contacted a total of 58 potential troublemakers while arresting three people and warning 14 others. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 99 calls last week including 49 for emergency medical service, six for reports of fire or smoke, 23 lift assists, eight rescue situations, four assists to other agencies and five false alarms. Firefighters also performed 10 business inspections, led two education/prevention programs, assisted the public seven times and properly installed one child car seat. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 923 emergency calls in addition to 653 calls for non-emergency service.

 

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Grants Pass Historical Buildings & Sites Commission (HBSC) due to a vacancy. This position expires on December 7, 2026. The HBSC's purpose is to review proposed alterations to any historic district or designated structure in the Grants Pass urban growth boundary, to promote the community's historic preservation, to advise other agencies on matters related to historic preservation, and to identify areas of archaeological significance and buildings of historic or archaeological significance. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and residents of the City of Grants Pass. This position is for a representative who is the owner of a business located within the Central Business District of Grants Pass. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 7th. Applications will be reviewed by the Commission on Thursday, February 13th. An appointment will be made during the City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 5th.

 

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) awarded $1.2 million in "Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine" grant funds to 14 recipients in 11 counties across the state that stood out for their vision, creativity and potential to make a meaningful difference in waste prevention. DEQ received a total of 110 applications from throughout Oregon in which applicants demonstrated innovation, dedication and community impact in their project proposals. DEQ Grants Coordinator Haley Miller said the grant program supports statewide efforts to reduce the environmental and human health impacts of materials at all stages of their lifecycle. She said their team has been hard at work reigniting a program that can more effectively invest in community solutions to the social, environmental and health impacts created by production, consumption, use and disposal of materials. Locally, "Be The Change Rogue" in Ashland was awarded a DEQ grant for the Rogue-to-Go development and expansion of take-out reusable dishware. Just like with health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking public assistance in locating a Cave Junction teenager who ran away from home. The Sheriff's Office reports 15-year-old William Herren ran away from his Cave Junction area residence on Thursday. Officials said there is concern that Herren may try to travel to Portland. Herren is described as a white male, 5-feet-5-inches tall and 130 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He may be trying to conceal his face with a blue or black bandana. He may also have a black backpack with him. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of William Herren is encouraged to contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

 

After driving to Southern Oregon from Texas, the men prepped for their planned operation -- a drug ripoff from a major marijuana grow. Shortly after arriving at the Clarion Pointe Hotel in Medford in February 2022, they mugged for photos in front of drawn drapes in Room 103. They posed in their disguises, dressed in dark clothes and masks, wearing hats and sweatshirts marked "DEA" or "police." They also donned body armor, with guns and rifles at the ready, according to photos in court records. But federal prosecutors said the disguises weren't enough to conceal a violent home invasion robbery days later and an attempt to seize about 1,000 pounds of pot from an unlicensed marijuana grow. The first two of the six men arrested were sentenced yesterday for their roles in the robbery. The Oregonian reports 22-year-old Jordan Allen Gammage received nine years and three months in prison and 23-year-old Alan Jaasiel Lopez received five years and 10 months. Both men pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana. The other four have entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing in federal court in Medford.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people on outstanding warrants while assisting Josephine County Community Corrections yesterday. The Police Department reports officers first arrested 42-year-old Guy Caley McFarland at a home on Skylark Lane on Thursday at 11:02 a.m.. Police said corrections officers attempted to locate McFarland at a residence on SE Vista Drive, but he was not there and they learned he might be at Skylark Lane. He was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 4th-Degree Assault. During a consent search, McFarland was found to be in possession of a sandwich bag containing a white crystal substance that was identified as methamphetamine. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. According to the report, officers contacted 52-year-old Monica Lynn Campbell at the Vista Drive home during the investigation and they learned she was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft. She was lodged in jail on the warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant while investigating a trespassing complaint in the East Park Street area yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident in the 1100-block of SE Acacia Lane on Thursday at 10:25 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that 45-year-old David Curtis Williams had been at the home for a couple of days and he refused to leave the residence when asked to do so. The caller said she and her roommate -- who she identified as Williams' girlfriend -- wanted him to go. Officers arrived on scene, contacted Williams and discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Contempt of Court. Williams was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.