Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman who was camping out in the lobby of a local motel last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint at the Riverside Inn on SW 6th Street near Caveman Bridge at 9:22 p.m. Thursday. Police said motel staff called 9-1-1 to report a female subject later identified as 65-year-old Shelley Irene West entered the lobby, sat down on a couch and refused to leave when it became apparent that she was neither customer nor guest. Upon arrival, officers contacted West and she once again refused to leave the motel. She was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Criminal Trespass.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for beating up his estranged wife when he returned to her residence this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 49-year-old John Scott Jessen for the incident at a residence on SW Laurel Street on Wednesday. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that Jessen had assaulted her Tuesday night, returned the next morning and was yelling at her through the door. She told dispatchers they were still legally married -- but separated -- and she had locked the door to keep him outside. She said he broke her phone when she tried to call for help the night before. Jessen left the scene, but the alleged victim said she believed he went to apartments on SW Bridge Street where his children live. That's where officers located him and placed him into custody. Jessen was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for probable cause of Strangulation, Menacing and Harassment -- all constituting Domestic Violence -- plus Interfering with Making a Police Report. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Community Corrections client this week after he tried to escape from a work crew at the Grants Pass Airport. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 46-year-old Jacob Girtman at or near the Josephine County Animal Shelter on Brookside Boulevard around midday on Wednesday. Deputies said an airport maintenance worker caught Girtman loitering around the hangars and he fled when contacted. The male subject reportedly jumped the fence and ran toward the Animal Shelter. When deputies arrived, Girtman continued eastbound through the dog kennels and jumped over a barbed wire fence before he was detained at Taser point. He tried to run again and kept fighting with deputies after being placed in handcuffs. It was believed he may have been under the influence of a narcotic stimulant. Once Girtman was put into a patrol vehicle, he tried to kick out a window and had to be restrained with leg wraps. During transport, he was somehow able to slip out of the wraps, so deputies were forced to pull over and contact the Oregon State Police to help restrain him again. Girtman eventually arrived at the Josephine County Jail where he was booked on charges of Escape, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Mischief and Furnishing False Information to Police plus the resulting Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two people for warrant and weapon violations following a disturbance in the Williams area this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident at a home in the 1400-block of Rock Creek Road early Wednesday morning. Deputies said the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call from that address, but the call taker only heard shuffling on the line followed by the voice of a young woman asking someone to leave her alone. Dispatchers eventually learned that a verbal confrontation was taking place and they alerted deputies before it escalated. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that the two parties were arguing about the man allowing smoke into the home. The woman stated that she was helping clean up the property for the owner and denied that she was in a relationship with the man, who was identified as 37-year-old Bobby Gillette. Gillette was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant containing a secret indictment for three counts of 1st-Degree Forgery. He was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The young woman -- who was not identified -- was arrested for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. She was cited to appear in court and then given a courtesy ride into Grants Pass. The firearm was seized.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender on a local warrant after he was caught throwing rocks at cars on Rogue River Highway this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to the intersection of Highway 99 and Maple Lane on Wednesday morning. Police said 26-year-old Nick Dustin Farmer was called in for throwing rocks at vehicles and hitting at least two of them. He was detained near Playford Lane and found to be wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Larceny or Petty Theft. Farmer was placed into custody and lodged in jail on the warrant. He was also warned for Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Mischief.

 

Do you have a will? Grants Pass High School Project Graduation is once again sponsoring a "Will-a-Thon" to raise money for a safe drug- and alcohol-free party for the GPHS Class of 2025. Participants will consult with one of 13 volunteer attorneys to have a basic will, power of attorney and advanced directive prepared. Appointments are from February until early April. They are limited. The cost is $300 for one person or $350 per couple. All proceeds go to Project Graduation. To make your appointment, call Victory Walker today at (541)-285-7674. If you already have a will -- but would like to support graduating GPHS seniors, please send your contributions to GPHS, c/o Project Graduation, 830 NE 9th Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526.

 

US Senator Ron Wyden said he is joining Senate colleagues in introducing legislation that would prevent Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from making arrests at sensitive locations such as hospitals, schools, churches and courthouses in Oregon and nationwide. The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act would codify the Department of Homeland Security's established policies to stop ICE from making arrests at essential service locations. In addition, the legislation would ensure immigrants can have access to education, criminal justice and social services without fear of deportation. The list of "sensitive locations" protected under this legislation includes -- but are not limited to -- medical treatment facilities and health care facilities of all types; public and private schools, early childhood learning centers, preschools, school activities and field trips: places of worship; federal and local courthouses; DMVs and Social Security offices; polling places; labor union halls; and several locations that provide essential or emergency services to immigrant communities such as rape crisis centers and homeless shelters. Wyden said "the Trump administration's efforts to upend these policies not only goes against long-standing precedent, but also threatens public safety."

 

Jackson and Josephine counties continue to see high influenza rates this year. Influenza -- also known as the flu -- is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Influenza A(H1N1) and Influenza A(H3N2) are the predominant virus strains circulating in Southern Oregon. These two strains are not the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPA1), also known as "bird flu" A(H5N1). There have been no confirmed local bird flu cases. If you have flu symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches or fatigue, talk to your doctor before visiting the hospital emergency room. Emergency departments are busy, and people with mild symptoms who want to be seen can protect others and avoid long waits in the ER by calling their primary care provider before heading to the hospital. People at higher risk of severe illness from influenza include those 65 years and older, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic medical conditions or weak immune systems. The flu vaccine is available from health care providers, Jackson and Josephine County Public Health departments, and many pharmacies.

 

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley is excited to announce the appointment of four distinguished community leaders to its Board of Directors. The new members are set to play a key role in advancing the Club's mission of providing safe environments and impactful programs and services to young people in the Rogue Valley. Just recently, the Board of Directors was honored with the Silver Award in Boys & Girls Clubs of America's League of Eagles Organizational Recognition Program. This award recognizes local Boys & Girls Club affiliate organizations whose boards of directors demonstrated strong engagement and superior commitment to their clubs. Joining this distinguished group are Noah Horstman, owner of Golf Garage and West Coast Academy of Golf in Phoenix; Clayton Martin, regional manager of Dutch Bros Josephine County; Mason Smith, social media content creator and entrepreneur; and Dave Thomason, owner of Thomason Hospitality Group. The new positions fill recent vacancies following the retirement of multiple long-standing Board members.