Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on an outstanding warrant after she tried to sell some stolen jewelry to a downtown pawn shop late last week. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident at Cash Connection on SW 6th Street on Friday. Police said a 36-year-old female subject attempted to pawn some jewelry that an employee believed was stolen. They said the woman fled the store when he called law enforcement. She was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for a weapon offense and what they called "violent tendencies." The suspect was located later in the day at the former Spalding Mill on the east side of the city. She fled on foot from officers and decided to cool off by jumping into the pond on the edge of the property. She was eventually convinced to climb out of the pond and she was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and she may face new charges if the jewelry she tried to sell is identified as stolen.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for breaking into a vehicle at a city park last weekend. The Police Department reports officers contacted the female subject during a Sunday afternoon patrol check at Riverside Park. Police said they could hear a woman yelling "Get out of my car!" The woman advised she observed another woman reach into the driver-side window of her Chrysler minivan and grab a black-beaded rosary from her gear shift. The victim pointed officers to a female in a black dress walking south through the park. According to the report, the suspect initially refused to identify herself, but officers identified her and located the stolen rosary around her ankle. A witness at the scene told officers that she made the rosary for the theft victim. The 46-year-old suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and 3rd-Degree Theft.

 

The Central Point Command of the Oregon State Police has received multiple reports of citizens receiving calls from individuals impersonating state troopers. OSP wants to remind the public that the law enforcement agency does not ask for bank account information, credit card information or any other form of payment information required to complete a financial transaction via phone call. In addition to account information, OSP investigators will not request personal information required to access financial institutions. Please remind your loved ones and those vulnerable to these types of scams that law enforcement will not attempt to resolve arrest warrants by financial payment -- especially over the phone. Never provide any sort of financial payment via phone to avoid an arrest, whether for yourself or a family member. While investigators face significant challenges in locating and arresting suspects related to these scams, incidents may be reported to the local police agency in which a resident lives.

 

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has extended an Air Quality Advisory affecting parts of Jackson County due to wildfire smoke. According to DEQ, the advisory affecting northern Jackson County is expected to last until at least Wednesday afternoon. Also affected are northern Klamath County, Lake County, Deschutes County and northern Harney County. DEQ expects intermittent smoke until at least Wednesday afternoon in southern Jackson County, eastern Douglas County, eastern Lane County, southern Grant County and Hood River County. Josephine County is not included in the advisory. Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather. Smoke can irritate eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions. People most at risk include infants and young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with heart or lung disease. Protect yourself and your family when smoke levels are high. Stay inside if possible. Keep windows and doors closed. If it's too hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or consider moving to a cooler location. Avoid strenuous outdoor activities. If you have a breathing plan for a medical condition, be sure to follow it and keep any needed medications refilled.

 

The Josephine County Fair Board has created a master plan for the Fairgrounds that was on display in the center of the Commercial Building at last week's fair. In 2017, the Fair Board recognized the need for a Master Plan to determine priorities for making improvements to aging facilities and utilities to assure the Fairgrounds would continue to serve the community for generations to come. In 2019, the design team of PLACE and Gerlitz Engineering Consultants began to develop a comprehensive 15-year Master Plan. Presentations were made to business leaders, county and city administration, and many others. Input was gathered as well. In 2021, the Josephine County Fairgrounds & Event Center Master Plan was adopted by the Fair Board and endorsed by the Board of Commissioners. It reflects the vision of the Fair Board and the community while providing an analysis of current and future needs of the facilities, programs and services as well as an implementation strategy and budgets. In 2023, the Friends of the Josephine County Fairgrounds, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, agreed to partner with the Fairgrounds to attempt to find funding sources through grants and donations.

 

Event organizers are preparing for the 21st Annual Art Along the Rogue Festival in downtown Grants Pass on October 4th, 5th and 6th. Organizers are currently accepting applications for volunteer artists for the popular street chalk art and music festival. The theme this year is "Unsolved Mysteries" such as Bigfoot, Area 51, DB Cooper or other mysteries that inspire artists. Plenty of 10-foot-by-10-foot and 8-foot-by-8-foot volunteer spaces are available, with applications being accepted until 5 p.m. on September 8th. Applications for vendors and sponsors are also open. There are more than 60 spaces available. Since its conception in 2003, Art Along the Rogue has become one of Grants Pass' premier community events. It's one of the state's leading street chalk and music festivals, attracting thousands of visitors to River City every autumn. For more information, contact James Conway with the Grants Pass Economic Development Department at (541)-450-6071.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested an Illinois Valley man for violating a court order by allegedly harassing his estranged wife late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 1600-block of Lone Mountain Road in O'Brien on Friday afternoon. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report her husband showed up at her house yelling and being "nasty." The caller advised that she has a valid restraining order protecting her from the 40-year-old man whom law enforcement has flagged for carrying knives and other weapons on his person. According to the report, the subject starting calling and texting his estranged wife and daughter before arriving at the residence where a young child was also present. Upon arrival, deputies found the suspect's vehicle parked in front of the gate to the property. After confirming the court order, the suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for being the aggressor in a weekend brawl at a trailer park on Rogue River Highway. The Police Department reports officers responded to the disturbance involving several people in the 1200-block of Highway 99 on Saturday around 8 p.m.. Police said there was a large fight at the incident location. They said witnesses reported a 26-year-old female subject and her male friend showed up to the park intoxicated and spit on a woman. Multiple subjects told the pair to leave, but the male subject reportedly attacked another man by pulling him into the vehicle and scratching him. The female subject got out of the vehicle and punched a woman. Both victims were transported by ambulance to the hospital for evaluation. Both suspects left in a vehicle. Police were able to contact them by phone and the woman agreed to meet with an officer to give her side of the story. Her male friend refused to meet with law enforcement. She was eventually placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Assault. The report was forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for a review of potential charges against her male companion.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a man on an outstanding felony warrant during a weekend traffic stop on Redwood Highway near O'Brien. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford Excursion driven by a 33-year-old male subject near milepost 36 of US Highway 199 on Saturday at 1:55 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for traffic violations and discovered that the driver had an active felony warrant for his arrest. He was wanted for Felony Parole Violation, but the underlying conviction was not disclosed. The suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. His vehicle was left with a passenger who was identified as a 30-year-old Cave Junction man.