OSP Seeks Information about Vandalism and Salmon Theft from Local Fish Hatchery

The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is seeking public assistance in identifying persons of interest in the vandalism of a cellular trail camera and the taking of salmon from a fish trap at the Cole Rivers Fish Hatchery near Trail. OSP reports two individuals were first spotted by a trail camera at the hatchery on August 12, 2024, and they returned three days later wearing motorcycle helmets when they entered the stream around the fish trap, attempting to spear salmon. Trail camera photos showed one individual operating a red Harley Davidson or similar motorcycle and the second operating a black sport bike. The subjects were accompanied by a black German shepherd. On July 5th of this year at about 5 a.m., two masked individuals matching the description and builds of the two subjects in 2024 were captured on a trail camera approaching the outflow fish trap. They were again accompanied by a black German shepherd. One individual waded across the river and ripped the antenna off the cellular camera while the second individual remained on shore holding what looked like a large salmon net. The following day, OSP game troopers found the broken antenna and the trail camera pushed to the side. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife found the lock to the fish trap had been cut to gain access to the fish. An unknown number of salmon were netted from the trap. ...Read more

Grants Pass Police Warn Residents Old Scam Re-Emerging on Area Telephones

If you receive a telephone call from someone claiming to be from the Grants Pass Police Department or any other law enforcement agency and demanding payment over the internet or phone, please hang up immediately. GPPD does not process payments in this manner and will not call you to collect money for fines, warrants, the policeman's ball or anything else. Another elaborate scam is hitting the Grants Pass community where the caller claims to be "Sergeant Moore" or "Lieutenant Lee" and demands that you need to immediately pay off fines -- using bitcoin -- or face being arrested. The caller then sends a QR code for you to use to pay the money. Please do not fall for this scam. If you get a similar call and are concerned it might actually be an officer, hang up and call the number for GPPD. The non-emergency number is (541)-450-6260. Do not call the number the caller gives you. They will spoof our local area code, making it appear to be a local call when it is not. Unfortunately, a member of the Grants Pass community fell victim to this scam earlier this week and lost $3,500 that she will never be able to recover. ...Read more

GP Library Friends Encourages Supporters to Attend August 14th Meeting of BCC

Grants Pass Friends of the Library is encouraging its supporters to attend the August 14th meeting of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. As the Board liaison, Commissioner Chris Barnett and leaders of the Josephine Community Library District had agreed on a draft lease agreement for the Grants Pass branch. Library supporters understood that the lease would be voted on by the Board of Commissioners on August 14th. But in two separate meetings last week, Board Chair Andreas Blech surprised everyone by "setting the expectation" that the lease would not be voted on at the August 14th weekly business session. The postponed vote has given library leaders many reasons to be wary. The lease was canceled with no warning over seven months ago, but overwhelming citizen support for the library made the Commissioners back down. Since then, they said there's been a pattern of "evasion and double speak." If the lease is not resolved soon, the library district will enter the fall months with possible eviction looming in December. ...Read more