Local News

Monday afternoon a Josephine County Deputy stopped a vehicle with no license plates and the driver ended up in the County Jail facing multiple charges. The Deputy made the stop in the 2400 block of Northwest Vine Street and found the driver, identified as Ryan Paul Thatcher, 21, to be driving while suspended with no emergent reason to be in control of a vehicle. Thatcher’s parole officer wanted him taken into custody, so he was transported the Josephine County Jail. He booking sheet shows he if facing three charges: criminal trespass II, theft I and criminal mischief I-crime damage.

 

Monday the Grants Pass City Council workshop heard from the steering committee for the Main Street program, discussed dimensions and safety of private streets and explored deferring System Development Charges. The steering committee for the fledgling Main Street program that is forming made a presentation. The organization is designed to fill a gap since Visit Grants Pass ended in 2020.The organization hopes to revitalize community events. The Back to the 50’s was mentioned specifically.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry engaged and controlled a grass fire in the 1400 block of Highway 238 near Provolt Monday afternoon. An aggressive initial attack was conducted in an effort to stop the spread of the fire. By 6:35 p.m. last night firefighters had stopped the forward progression of fire and were working to construct line around it. No other details were provided by ODF. The cause of this fire will be under investigation. The current fire danger level in Josephine and Jackson Counties remains high.

 

The Grants Pass City Council workshop heard from the steering committee for the Main Street program, discussed dimensions and safety of private streets and explored deferring System Development Charges. The steering committee for the fledgling Main Street program that is forming made a presentation. The organization is designed to fill a gap since Visit Grants Pass ended in 2020. The organization hopes to revitalize community events. The Back to the 50’s was mentioned specifically. The Main Street program has access to $400,000 in available grants for the city, primarily for infrastructure improvements. Funding the program would likely fall to a combination of City funds along with local business memberships and grants. No specific requests were made of the Council. A discussion of private street dimensions included parking arrangements, public utilities in terms of fire hydrant availability plus access for fire fighting apparatus. Council asked for further information to include discussions between the fire chief and the planning department before making any further instructions to staff. Much the same occurred during a discussion of System Development Charge deferrals. Currently residential development may defer SDC’s until a letter of occupancy is issued whereas commercial development must pay SDC’s at the time the permit is issued. Council indicated a preference each type of development may defer System Development Charges.

 

Grants Police responded to the 6th and ‘G’ Street area Sunday night after a 911 call was received saying his friend had just been administered Narcan after he had smoked fentanyl. Arriving officers observed the suspect running along the railroad tracks toward the Grower’s Market lot and detained him, identifying him as 38-year-old Joshua Scott McFadden. Medics evaluated McFadden due to the fact that an unknown amount of Narcan had been administered by the reporting party. McFadden declined transport to the hospital. A serviceable warrant for McFadden returned for burglary related charges so, after confirming his identity he was lodged in jail on the warrant and remained in custody Monday morn

 

A red BMW, flagged as stolen, was stopped and recovered by the Oregon State Police Saturday morning near milepost 28 of Highway 199. According to the State Police report, it was apparent that the occupants of the BMW were unaware the vehicle was stolen as they had purchased the vehicle from a person facilitated in a deal by a family member. The family member has been interviewed and was not cooperative in the investigation. Charges of possession of a stolen vehicle was referred to the District Attorney’

 

The driver of sedan that caused a collision on Highway 199 at milepost 13 fled the scene of foot according to the Oregon State Police. Troopers responded to the scene where a gray Mazda 3 made a dangerous left turn onto the highway, crashing into a white Land Rover last Friday afternoon. The owner of the Land Rover claimed the other driver was a woman he did not know, and she left the scene on foot.A search for the woman by Troopers was unsuccessful. There were no injuries reported in the accident, but neither vehicle was drivable, so both were towed from the scene.

 

County Commissioner candidate, Chris Barnett, has filed suit against John Oliver Riccio, who uses the pen name John Oliver, who operates a news/opinion website called the Grants Pass Tribune. The Grants Pass Daily Courier is reporting Barnett filed suit in Josephine County Circuit Court for false publication, libel and tortious interference. Barnett is suing for $100,000 plus a court order requiring Mr. Riccio to retract his allegations and admit they are false. In a Courier interview Mr. Riccio said he will expose all of his evidence, saying he was not worried. Mr. Barnett is a local realtor and part time employee of Grants Pass Broadcasting, the parent company of this radio station.

 

A 73-year-old man ended up in the Josephine County Jail after a trip through the Hospital after trying to steal a beer. Grants Pass City officers were dispatched to 650 Redwood Avenue late Saturday afternoon to the report of a theft and assault. The suspect, Melvin Wayne Cherry, allegedly stole a beer, passed all points of sale and was confronted by the establishment’s manager. According to the police report Cherry used physical force by putting his hand on her shoulder to push her out of the way. Her son stepped between them which resulted in Cherry falling. American Medical Response transported Cherry to Three Rivers Medical Center where he was treated and released to officers who transported him to jail