Local News

The Oregon State Police has released the results of its investigation into a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred on Interstate 5 in Central Point late last week. On Friday at 10:53 a.m., troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 33. OSP said the preliminary investigation indicated a Jackson County sheriff's deputy observed a Suzuki GSX-R1000 operated by 19-year-old Chalino Tellez-Cortez of Phoenix traveling northbound at more than 100 miles per hour. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the motorcycle rider failed to yield and struck the trailer of a Peterbilt commercial motor vehicle driven by a 28-year-old Yuba City, California, man. Tellez-Cortez was declared deceased at the scene. The truck driver was not hurt. Interstate 5 was impacted for approximately two hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Central Point Police Department, Jackson County Fire District #3, Mercy Flights and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple crimes after he led officers on a high-speed pursuit last weekend. The Police Department reports officers eventually arrested 20-year-old Wyatt Cole Davis at gunpoint near the intersection of Granite Hill and Donaldson roads on Sunday at 9:17 p.m.. Police said they observed a white Ford Thunderbird pull out of the Li'l Pantry Market & Deli in north Grants Pass at a high rate of speed and skid sideways. An officer initiated a traffic stop, but the young motorist refused to yield, drove into the oncoming travel lane and drove away at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. According to the report, the officer terminated the pursuit and returned to Li'l Pantry where he used video surveillance to identify the vehicle and its owner. The suspect vehicle was located and a high-risk traffic stop was conducted, with Davis and his male passenger detained. K-9 Maro was deployed for compliance and contingency needs. Davis admitted to trying to elude law enforcement and he stated he almost crashed and endangered his passenger who was released. Davis was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. His car was impounded.

 

Police arrested a man for drug possession and probation violation after responding to a domestic disturbance in the parking lot in the Grants Pass Shopping Center last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to an incident involving 60-year-old Clint Edward Robertson near Southern Oregon Goodwill on Sunday at about 1:45 p.m.. Police said they contacted Robertson after the altercation with his girlfriend in which no one was hurt. They said Robertson was clearly intoxicated and he is on probation through Jackson County for assault, which includes conditions of no intoxicating substances and no contact with his girlfriend. During a consent search, Robertson was found to be in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine -- which was seized for destruction. Robertson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man early yesterday for once again returning to a property from which he had been trespassed numerous times. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 46-year-old Jason William Whittenberg on the back patio of the former Dutch Bros headquarters building on SW 4th Street on Monday around 12:30 a.m.. Police said Whittenberg has been trespassed from that location eight times since March of this year and he had been trespassed from the site on Sunday evening. A few hours later he was back, and all the garbage and rubbish he had cleaned up the night before was back as well. Whittenberg was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and Offensive Littering. To keep him from returning again, he was being held without bail.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department helped free a horse that became stuck in its stall in the Merlin area last weekend. On Sunday afternoon, Rural Metro crews were requested to help free a horse that was caught in a metal panel of its stall on Hugo Road. Firefighters assisted the horse owner with disassembling the panel, freeing the horse and then reassembling the panel. Fortunately, the horse was not injured. Rural Metro wants to remind the community that animal rescues can be reported through 9-1-1. Firefighters often work with equine veterinarians and animal control officers to find safe and effective solutions to free them from their predicaments. Firefighters also employ their technical rescue and extraction theories along with tools typically applied for human rescues. Several Rural Metro employees not only own their own horses, but have taken specialized training to rescue large animals. Animal rescues and extractions have been applied locally to horses, cows, dogs, cats, goats, exotic birds, ducks, deer and many other critters.

 

It's Election Day and that means ballots for the recall effort targeting Josephine County Commissioner John West are due by 8 o'clock this evening. The Josephine County Clerk's Office reported voter turnout for the recall election was just under 28% as of Monday evening. Out of 70,457 registered voters, 19,688 had returned their ballots. Per the Oregon Secretary of State's Office, it is recommended that voters drop off their ballots at the Courthouse in Grants Pass or an official drop-site location before tonight's 8 p.m. deadline. Drop boxes are located at the Clerk's Office, the north and south entrances to the Courthouse, the back parking lot of the Grants Pass library branch, Washington Federal Bank on Union Avenue, Ray's Food Place in Merlin, Hidden Valley Market in Murphy and Cave Junction City Hall. Voters can still mail in their ballots and they will be counted if they receive the December 17th postmark. Be sure to vote and then tune in to this radio station tonight at 8 for the first set of results in the recall election.

 

The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace has announced that the deadline to get health insurance coverage for 2025 has been extended until tomorrow, giving Oregonians additional time to avoid a gap in health coverage. The extension ensures that individuals and families who have yet to sign up for health insurance can take advantage of this opportunity to review their options and select a plan that fits their needs and budget. The original deadline was extended to provide a few extra days for those who need more time to enroll for coverage starting January 1st. The Marketplace offers a variety of plans that include essential health benefits such as doctor visits, prescription drugs, mental health care and emergency services. Financial assistance is available for many Oregonians, with most individuals qualifying for savings on monthly premiums. To enroll, visit "OregonHealthCare.gov" to compare plans and get started.

 

Eighteen local Rotarians recently gathered at the Josephine County Food Bank to put together 319 brown grocery bags full of food as part of the FORK Project. The Grants Pass and Three Rivers School Districts will distribute these bags to elementary school children at risk of going hungry over the Christmas holiday break. Items in the bags included but were not limited to a full-size box of cereal, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti sauce, beef sticks, tuna, milk and granola bars. This effort was made possible due to the efforts of several key community partners. Pacific Power and Josephine County Rotarians provided the money to purchase the food. The Redwood Education Foundation consolidated the funding, provided administrative support and secured the Pacific Power grant. Grocery Outlet donated the brown bags used in the project.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on a statewide felony warrant after receiving an anonymous weekend tip that he was at a north-city motel. The Police Department reports officers arrested 32-year-old Tyler Christopher Bacon, Jr., at the Super 8 Motel on NE 7th Street late Saturday afternoon. Police said Bacon was called in by an anonymous person who advised Bacon appeared to be intoxicated and was attempting to operate a vehicle. They said he was contacted at the motel and provided a fake name of "Ian Brown." After Bacon's true identity was revealed, it was discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a previous kidnapping conviction. He was placed into custody without incident. Bacon was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.