Local News

A man called 911 Sunday night to report he was being assaulted, but after finding the claim to be false, Grants Pass Police arrested him.

According to the police report, the caller notified dispatch of the disturbance at 7:04 p.m. after several juveniles claimed he had physically manipulated a juvenile victim after agreeing to purchase the victim alcoholic beverages.

The caller refused to identify himself, and said he was being assaulted. When the officers arrived, the caller was seen surrounded by a large group of people. He was separated from the crowd, and told police he was being attacked and felt like he couldn't leave.

Footage captured at the scene by witnesses disproved the caller's claims, showing him threatening the crowd and attempting to instigate a fight. Despite having chances to leave the scene, he refused to do so.

Officers identified him as Christian Bartell, and took him into custody for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, Third Degree Sex Abuse, and a Parole Violation Detainer. The police report states a juvenile was also taken into custody at the scene.

 

During a special meeting at noon today, the Grants Pass City Council was unanimous in approval of four lease resolutions for Art Along the Rogue.

Motions in favor of leasing the sidewalks and parklets adjacent to both the Wonder Bur and Nada Bar, and the sidewalks adjacent to The Haul and 234 SW 5th Street to the Weekend Beer Company passed unanimously.

These resolutions would authorize the City Manager to lease certain City rights-of-way in the downtown area to local businesses, allowing outdoor food and beverage service in relation this weekend's event. The proposed leases would run from 7 a.m. Friday, October 2nd, to 10 p.m. Sunday, October 4th, with no cost incurred to the city.

Past practices were questioned, and will not be allowed under the current code. Table service will need to be provided, and no storage of bottles, pitchers, taps, coolers, or kegs will be permitted on the sidewalk.

 

A woman was called in as a disturbance Sunday, and police took her into custody for Methamphetamine Possession.

Dispatch was alerted to the incident at 11:40 a.m. The suspect, later identified as Mary Wallace, was throwing things at the caller outside a property in the 400 block of NE Baker Drive.

She also reportedly targeted the window of the premises with what appeared to be a shoe. The caller then reported Wallace was on the sidewalk. Upon contact with Grants Pass Police, Wallace was found to have an active and serviceable warrant out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.

Her identity and warrant were confirmed, and police transported Wallace to the Josephine County Jail for lodging on the meth charge.

 

The Board of Commissioners held a job performance meeting in open session by request beginning at 10 a.m. this morning.

The County Communications system and a reported lack of communication was a main area of concern. Commissioner Colene Martin stated there was a lack of documents provided, while Facilities Director Ryan Johnson said he had in-person conversations, claiming he didn't feel he needed to bring things to the board to prove he's doing his job.

Animal Shelter updates and maintenance complaints were discussed, as were safety and security inquiries, and the topic of fairgrounds plumbing.

Commissioner Gary Richardson said that, in the director level position, people are sought who are proactive and looking to the future, trying to make the County Government more efficient, and advancing the interest of their department and organization.

Another meeting will be held to discuss next steps following the open session.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department apprehended a woman wanted on a fentanyl possession warrant Sunday.

While on patrol, police recognized Bobbie Jo Langdon walking south on 6th Street next to the Police Department around 7:28 p.m. She was stopped and detained, and found to be wanted on a warrant out of the department.

Officers confirmed her warrant, charging her for possessing fentanyl, and placed Langdon under arrest. She was subsequently transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged at 7:53 p.m.

 

Rogue Community College and Oregon Tech are partnering to address regional demand for manufacturing engineering talent while expanding access to four-year technical education in the Rogue Valley.

The new partnership gives students an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree from Oregon Tech without leaving the region. Through the new 2+2 pathway, students will earn an Associate of Science transfer degree through RCC before continuing into Oregon Tech’s Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology.

RCC and Oregon Tech will celebrate the partnership with a ceremonial signing at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 29th, at RCC’s Table Rock Campus, 7800 Pacific Avenue in White City, in the A Building Atrium.

The partnership is a first for RCC and was developed in response to the need for more advanced manufacturing and engineering talent in Southern Oregon. The degree prepares students for the technical needs of modern manufacturing, including manufacturing processes, automation, robotics, industrial controls, computer-aided design and manufacturing, quality and continuous improvement.

For information about RCC’s transfer degree program, visit roguecc.edu/manufacturing-transfer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman accused of assaulting another at Quality Inn Saturday night.

Two women were reported to be under the influence of meth at the 1889 NE 6th Street location around 9:34 p.m. One of them was attempting to check in before a physical fight between the two broke out. They were briefly separated but continued a verbal altercation outside.

The victim of the fight was in the bathroom while the suspect, Misty Bauer, was in the parking lot, screaming and yelling, around 9:37 p.m. Law enforcement reported to the scene and detained Bauer. Video footage of the incident had been captured and was provided to police.

Bauer was arrested and transported to the Josephine County Jail. She was lodged on a charge of Fourth Degree Aggravated Assault.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man that had reportedly pulled his pants down at a local business Saturday.

An employee at the 1555 Williams Highway location called 911 at 6:20 p.m., to report a man had come into the store, took his pants down to his knees, and took a cup. He was asked to leave, which he did two minutes later.

The suspect was described as having a brown beard and hair, wearing a camo hoodie, gray and blue pants with mud on the back, boots, and was carrying clothing in his arms. He left the premises, and was reported next to the Abby's Pizza across the street.

Officers responded and contacted the suspect, Robert Smith. His parole officer was contacted and placed a detainer on Smith. He was taken into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail. Officers lodged Smith on his detainer.

 

This Friday, October 2nd, 42 chalk artists will participate in Art Along the Rogue, transforming two blocks of pavement into a gallery depicting this year’s theme: Reflections.

Along with the artist's work in 12 x 12 and 10 x 10 spaces, including a 3-D piece, there will be an array of local and traveling musical groups performing in The Owl Plaza for the first time since its completion. Back this year are the youth teams from Grants Pass High School, Hidden Valley High School, and the CoCreation School in Williams.

Besides the brick-and-mortar dining options in and around the festival area, four food trucks will be serving hot food on H Street near 4th Street. 67 craft vendors will be in the Osprey Parking lot and on H Street between 4th and 5th Streets.

The event takes place on 5th Street between G and I Streets, and H Street between 4th and 6th Streets in historic downtown Grants Pass. Art Along the Rogue hours are Friday from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Art Along the Rogue would not be as successful as it is without the generous support of its sponsors and community partners.