Local News

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters kept the heat on criminal offenders and off structures in the city last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 673 calls for service along with 259 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 50 arrests, 43 citations, 43 warnings and nine highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 58 traffic stops in the city and they made a total of 14 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team contacted a total of 157 potential trouble-makers while arresting four people, citing nine more and warning 88 others. The CRT unit also trespassed four individuals from homes or businesses in the city. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue received a total of 105 calls last week including 31 for emergency medical service, six for reports of fire or smoke, 13 lift assists, five rescue situations, 10 assists to other agencies and four false alarms. Firefighters also performed 14 business inspections, led five education/prevention programs, assisted the public 13 times and properly installed two child car seats.

 

Homeowners living in the Southern Oregon region can now apply for financial incentives for installing heat pumps in their owner-occupied homes through the Oregon Department of Energy's Community Heat Pump Deployment Program. The Community Heat Pump Deployment Program provides financial assistance to homeowners toward the purchase and installation of heat pumps in their owner-occupied residences. Up to $5,000 is available for the purchase and installation of a heat pump that meets minimum efficiency requirements. Up to $7,000 is available for the purchase and installation of a heat pump that meets higher efficiency requirements. A grant of up to $4,000 may also be available for eligible upgrades such as a new electrical panel or weatherization or structural repairs that reduce heat and cooling loss. The incentive and grant amounts may not exceed 100% of the cost of purchase and installation of a heat pump or eligible upgrades. For more information on the Community Heat Pump Deployment Program, visit "oregon.gov/energy/incentives/pages/CHPDP.aspx."

 

The City of Grants Pass has announced that construction of the Dollar Mountain Trail Project will begin today. The initial phase of the project will involve building approximately five miles of trails on the east side of the existing trails located off Hieglen Loop. Trail construction is expected to last until the beginning of December, weather permitting. Closed areas will be marked and the public is cautioned not to venture into any closed area at any time. If you have questions about the Dollar Mountain Trail Construction Project, please contact Parks Superintendent Josh Hopkins at: "jhopkins@grantspassoregon.gov."

 

Firefighters responded to two structure fires in the Cave Junction area late yesterday. On Friday at 5:23 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry and American Medical Response were dispatched to a structure fire in an undisclosed location of Cave Junction. Arriving units found the homeowner was able to extinguish the fire, but they were burned in the process and transported by AMR ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass. Firefighters confirmed the blaze was out and there was no extension to the attic space or surrounding wildland. On Friday at 7:09 p.m., IVFD, Rural Metro Fire Department and AMR responded to a structure fire in another undisclosed location of Cave Junction. Arriving units found a fully-engulfed two-story home, with some spread to the wildland that was quickly suppressed. Officials said the home was a total loss, but no firefighters or civilians were hurt. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

The Oregon State Police has arrested a local teenager for three alleged felony-level sex crimes. Josephine County Jail records show the 18-year-old man was arrested by OSP on Wednesday around noon. No details have been disclosed about the criminal allegations, but he was charged with 2nd-Degree Rape plus two other felony-level sex crimes. The young man was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man wanted for a previous law enforcement pursuit while adding a charge of drug possession and referring a charge of bribery. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 33-year-old male subject they identified as "Terry Lee Grigsby" in the 1800-block of Nebraska Avenue on Thursday afternoon. Police said Grigsby had previously eluded them and they spotted his black BMW before placing him into custody. During a consent search, they found him to be in possession of a white crystal substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. During the booking process at the Josephine County Jail, Grigsby reportedly offered the arresting officer gifts in return for a special recommendation for his release. Grigsby was lodged in jail for probable cause of Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Meth Possession. A charge of Bribery was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for drug possession and possibly vehicle theft after a traffic stop in the northwest part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a 2013 Honda Civic driven by a 46-year-old male subject near the corner of NW Conklin Avenue and Savage Street around midday Thursday. Police said the Honda had been reported stolen by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and the subject matched the description of the thief. However, officers were unable to make contact with the registered owner. The man GPPD identified as "Russell Gene Thompson" consented to a search of the car and officers located two glass pipes with methamphetamine residue. The drug paraphernalia was seized for destruction and the suspect was arrested. Thompson was lodged in jail for Meth Possession, he was cited for Driving While Suspended and he was warned for No Seatbelt. The stolen car was recovered and a report was sent to the Sheriff's Office for further investigation. Custody of the suspect's dog was given to a friend.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested three women for drug possession early yesterday during patrol checks in different parts of the city. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred in the parking lot of Shari's Restaurant on NE Agness Avenue on Friday at about 3:15 a.m.. Police said two women were contacted with drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain sight. One of them was cited to appear in court for Possession of Meth and Fentanyl while the other was cited to appear in court for Possession of Fentanyl. The drugs were seized for destruction. The second incident happened at the 5th Street Overlook at the end of SW 5th Street on Friday at 4:37 a.m. when officers contacted a 25-year-old female subject who was sleeping.Police said they observed tin foil and a "tooter" sticking out of the woman's pocket. She was also found to be in possession of a small baggie of methamphetamine. A routine records check showed she was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. The woman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and for Meth Possession.

 

The City of Grants Pass has announced that construction of the Dollar Mountain Trail Project will begin on Monday. The initial phase of the project will involve building approximately five miles of trails on the east side of the existing trails located off Hieglen Loop. Trail construction is expected to last until the beginning of December, weather permitting. Closed areas will be marked and the public is cautioned not to venture into any closed area at any time. If you have questions about the Dollar Mountain Trail Construction Project, please contact Parks Superintendent Josh Hopkins at: "jhopkins@grantspassoregon.gov.