Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley man on a total of 11 charges along with an outstanding warrant after he allegedly threatened a woman and others with a hatchet near Selma. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 37-year-old John Michael Cavanaugh for the incident in the 17,000-block of Redwood Highway on Friday at 6:05 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report her ex-boyfriend -- Cavanaugh -- not only threatened to assault people with a hatchet, he also threatened to burn down the house with all the occupants -- including a 4-year-old child -- inside. Further investigation revealed that Cavanaugh was upset that his ex-girlfriend was cooking meat that he believed belonged to him and that she was not going to share. He began yelling and cussing at her, left the house and returned with a hatchet that he raised in a threatening manner. He damaged the siding on the porch with the ax. Cavanaugh took off on a dirt bike, but he was stopped and placed into custody a short time later. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of 1st-Degree Burglary, three counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, four counts of Menacing and two counts of Criminal Mischief plus an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. He was being held without bail pending his court arraignment this afternoon.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on an outstanding felony warrant during a weekend welfare check near the Josephine County Fairgrounds. The Police Department reports officers arrested 62-year-old Stephen Edwin Evans near the corner of Redwood Highway and Redwood Avenue at 6:59 p.m. Friday. Police said they were alerted to a male transient sleeping next to the roadway right in front of Grants Pass Downs. Callers said the man's feet were dangling off the curb and they were concerned that a vehicle might hit him. Officers contacted Evans who was in possession of an Idaho identification card. They discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. He was placed into custody without incident. Evans was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held without bail. His backpack and bicycle were logged into evidence for safe-keeping.

 

A structure fire temporarily displaced a Cave Junction family from their home last night. The Illinois Valley Fire District, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the house fire in the 300-block of North Sawyer Road on Sunday at 7:39 p.m.. IVFD officials said arriving units observed active flames and smoke emanating from the garage of the single-family dwelling. They said fire suppression was achieved and the blaze was contained to the garage. One individual suffered burn injuries and was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. The American Red Cross was called in to assist the family due to smoke damage in their house. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Rural Metro provided coverage for the district during overhaul operations.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a weekend grass fire in the Fort Vannoy area that turned out to be a small structure fire. Rural Metro crews from the Merlin Station were alerted to the incident at the end of Cienaga Lane on Saturday at 11:52 a.m.. The property owner was unaware that the fire broke out inside their well house and completely destroyed it before spreading to the surrounding grass. A passerby who noticed flames burning on the side of the road quickly called 9-1-1. Rural Metro officials said the fire was contained to a small area and the cause of the fire that originated inside the well house was unknown. They said fire can occur at any time for a variety of reasons. As the weather gets warmer and drier, the chance of spread increases. Officials said it is important to use caution with any activity that may spark a fire and to be prepared to take action should a fire break out.

 

Following an Arbor Day tree planting at Eckstein Park and an executive session this morning, the Grants Pass City Council will hold a busy workshop session. The executive session is being held to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspections and to consult with the city attorney on current or likely litigation. It is closed to the public and media. During the workshop, the City Council will hear presentations from Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc., Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce, Rogue Community College Small Business Development Center and Main Street Grants Pass. Also on the agenda are a budget policy update, a reconfiguration of the non-bargaining salary schedule and Caveman Pool followed by a review of the agenda for Wednesday night's regular meeting. Today's workshop begins at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

The Cave Junction City Council will be considering contracts, three resolutions and three ordinances during its regular meeting tonight. Following a Public Works Update, the Consent Agenda and Public Comment, the City Council will consider a contract for Josephine County Sheriff's Office services at $199,000 for the next year -- a 1.4% increase over the current contract. Another contract for the rental of the Cave Junction Substation to the Josephine County Sheriff's Office is $446.33 per month including utilities. There are three resolutions on the agenda: one declaring a property on Laurel Road a public nuisance, one authorizing the receipt of grant funds for shading at Jubilee Park's spray pad, and another setting system development and storm water charges. Three ordinances pertain to sidewalk construction and repairs, increasing balances for payment agreements, and amending the system development and storm water fees. Tonight's meeting starts at 7 at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.

 

The City of Grants Pass has been dealt a significant financial blow to its plans for a replacement water treatment plant, which was scheduled to break ground in May. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has cancelled the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program for fiscal years 2020-2024, which means Grants Pass will not receive the $50 million grant that had been awarded to the city in summer 2023. The loss of these funds will require the Grants Pass City Council to consider borrowing additional funds and possibly raising rates to pay for the loan. How much the rates will increase and when the increase will go into effect are still to be determined. Grants Pass officials said inflation and current tariffs have also negatively impacted this project, though the city would have been able to proceed next month without borrowing money and raising rates. The risk of flooding is the main reason Grants Pass was awarded the BRIC grant. While it has been a while since the city has seen a significant flood, Public Works Director Jason Canady said that serious flooding would impact the current water treatment plant, which was built in the 1930s.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters stayed busy protecting the community over the past week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 534 calls for service along with 312 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 34 arrests, 31 citations, 107 warnings and seven highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 112 traffic stops in the city and they made 22 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) contacted a total of 17 potential troublemakers while arresting five people, citing nine more and warning seven others. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 105 calls last week including 40 for emergency medical service, two reports of fire or smoke, 21 lift assists, four rescue situations, five assists to other agencies and four false alarms. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,002 emergency calls last week.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office provided a strong law enforcement presence at the Pear Blossom Festival in Medford -- and they were not alone. During Saturday's Pear Blossom Parade, the local Sheriff's Office was joined by agencies from throughout the state. The combined color guard from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Medford Police Department marched in the annual parade. Motorcades from as far away as Hillsboro and Eugene joined local law agencies for the parade and to help provide safety and security for festival attendees. Other agencies assisting included the Central Point and Grants Pass Police Departments.The Sheriff's Office thanked all those who organized the Pear Blossom event.