Local News

The Grants Pass Police Department has a new lieutenant. GPPD Chief Warren Hensman promoted John Moore to the rank of lieutenant last week. Lieutenant Moore came to GPPD in 2008 as a Reserve Officer after previously serving as a Firefighter/Paramedic and a US Navy Corpsman. He was hired as a full-time Police Officer later that year, promoted to Corporal in 2014 and most recently served as a Sergeant after being promoted to that rank in 2021. Chief Hensman said Lieutenant Moore is an experienced leader. Following his promotion, he is taking on the administrative lieutenant position where he will manage several key functions of the department. Congratulations to GPPD Lieutenant John Moore!

 

A Southern Oregon restaurant was sentenced in federal court last week for stealing more than $759,000 in federal funds intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon, Amigos Mexican Cuisine and Cantina, LLC, formerly located outside Medford, was sentenced to pay $759,100 in restitution to the US Small Business Administration plus a criminal fine of $200,000. In a separate civil proceeding, Amigos was ordered to pay $1.6 million to settle a related False Claims Act allegation. According to court documents, Amigo submitted five fraudulent loan applications to steal more than $759,000 from three COVID-19 pandemic relief programs during a 13-month period beginning in April 2020. The swindled programs were identifies as the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.Prosecutors said Amigos made numerous false statements on these applications including claiming its owner did not own other businesses, providing inaccurate company financials, and falsely attesting that the company was not engaged in any illegal activity.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters posted yet another active week of community protection. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 673 calls for service and 257 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 49 arrests, 24 citations, 35 warnings and two highly intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 55 traffic stops and they made 24 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made contact with a total of 116 potential troublemakers while arresting seven people, citing 34 more and warning 19 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 16 individuals from homes or businesses. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 116 calls last week including 39 for emergency medical service, five reports of fire or smoke, 20 lift assists, nine rescue situations, 10 assists to other agencies and five false alarms. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,428 emergency calls.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is inviting residents to a public meeting regarding the Oregon Wildfire Hazard Map. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday, August 26th, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Anne G. Basker Auditorium, located at 600 NW 6th Street in Grants Pass. During the meeting, the Board of Commissioners and leaders from more than a dozen other Oregon counties will meet virtually with representatives from Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Forestry. While members of the public will not be able to speak at the meeting, residents are encouraged to provide their questions or comments in writing to the Commission prior to the meeting. The draft Wildfire Hazard Map went "live" for public review and comment on July 18th. The official draft map can be seen at "hazardmap.forestry.oregonstate.edu." The Oregon Wildfire Hazard Map is expected to become finalized in October.

 

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has issued a temporary area closure for tribal ceremonial purposes on Huckleberry Mountain, which includes Huckleberry camping area and the surrounding area. The closure was requested by the Klamath Tribe. Pursuant to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Cultural and Heritage Cooperation Authority, the US Forest Service is required to ensure access to National Forest System land, to the maximum extent practicable, by Indians and Indian tribes for traditional and cultural purposes.
The temporary closure will be implemented once per year for approximately ten days within a six-week period spanning between August 1st and September 15th. The closure period varies from year to year. This year the closure began August 16th and runs thru August 26th. Full closure order will be posted online at https://bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts.The closure exempts those with a specific authorizing permit, any organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of official duty and any member of the Klamath Tribes, or those invited by the Klamath Tribes, to participate in ceremonial activities.
Closure notices, road closed signs will be posted in the affected areas. Nearby alternative huckleberry picking, and dispersed camping areas have been identified online at https://linktr.ee/RRSNFFireInfo.

 

A southern Oregon restaurant was sentenced in federal court Friday for stealing more than $759,000 in federal funds intended to help small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Amigos Mexican Cuisine & Cantina LLC, formerly located outside of Medford was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $200,000 and $759,100 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). In a separate civil proceeding, Amigos was ordered to pay $1.6 million to settle a related False Claims Act allegation. According to court documents, in a 13-month period beginning in April 2020, Amigos submitted five fraudulent loan applications to steal more than $759,000 from three Covid-19 pandemic relief programs: the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Amigos made numerous false statements on these applications, including claiming its owners did not own other businesses, providing inaccurate company financials, and falsely attesting that the company was not engaged in any illegal activity. The company further falsely claimed on a loan forgiveness application that it had used the funds received for payroll. In reality, each time the company received a disbursement of federal funds, its owners would transfer the money to their personal bank accounts for use on various personal expenses. On April 29, 2024, Amigos pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging the company with stealing public money.

 

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Southern Oregon and Northern California beginning Saturday at 1:00 pm, expiring Saturday night at 9:00 pm. Abundant lightning on dry fuels could lead to numerous new fire starts. Gusty, shifting outflow winds could also result in changing fire behavior and spread. These winds could also present a danger to aircraft and ground personnel. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and move from south to north through the area into the evening. These storms will contain frequent and abundant cloud to ground lightning. Some of the stronger thunderstorms may contain strong to severe wind gusts and hail. Rainfall is expected with these storms and could be heavy at times

 

A 2-Alarm Vegetation Fire in Kerby was extinguished after multiple agencies responded to a reported structure fire shortly after 1 p.m. Friday. Once arriving units were on scene, a second alarm activation was dispatched in Kerby, due to the two acres that were burning in dry grass. Due to multiple connex boxes, a Recreational Vehicle, an outbuilding and items on the ground, the fire continued through to other properties, and structure protection was in place. Units from Rural Metro Fire - Josephine County, and Grants Pass Fire responded to assist with the fire operations. ODF dispatched two helicopters to the scene as well, a dozer and hand crews. The fire was reported as out as of 6:34 and units were mopping up.

 

The results are in. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue defeated the Grants Pass Police Department in the latest installment of "Battle of the Badges," a competitive blood drive for the American Red Cross. Last Wednesday at the Parkway Public Safety Station, Grants Pass firefighters collected 25 units of blood while Grants Pass police officers collected 17 units for a total of 42 units. Everyone was a winner and the event was a tremendous success. Red Cross officials said there is a blood shortage nationwide and every unit of blood collected will help save a life. Honor your heroes by being a hero.