Local News

The annual Boatnik festival is on in Riverside Park, which means parking and traffic will be impacted at various times until Monday afternoon. According to the City website, Saturday's Boatnik Parade will impact 6th Street. All vehicle traffic will not be permitted from A Street to the river. The road closure will be from 8 a.m. until after the parade at approximately 1 p.m. During the parade, traffic will be diverted from 6th Street at A Street to Beacon Drive, then onto the Grants Pass Parkway. Traffic can then divert to Interstate 5 or onto the Parkway. Caveman Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic during the parade as well. There will be no parking allowed at the following locations beginning today at midnight until after the parade Saturday: 6th Street from A Street to the Caveman Bridge, and Voorhies Way between 6th and 7th Streets. East Park Street is closed to vehicular traffic now through Monday at 9 p.m. Vehicles with a Boatnik parking permit or a disabled parking permit will only be allowed to enter East Park Street via the Parkway entrance. Baker Park will be closed to vehicle traffic and boat launching today at 5 p.m. to Monday at 3 p.m.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for Methamphetamine Possession during a park check late last night.

An officer contacted the suspect, Muffie Jo Howell Kern, while on patrol in Baker Park around 11:29 p.m. She was inside her parked vehicle in the 760 E Park Street location, and the officer saw a glass pipe inside the car in plain view.

The pipe, following a field test, returned positive for the presence of meth. A further search of Howell Kern's vehicle produced other drug items like a baggie with a white crystal-like substance.

She was cooperative and taken into custody at the scene. Law enforcement transported her to the Josephine County Jail and lodged her for Possession of Meth.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were approached by a threatening suspect before they promptly took him into custody.

While in the 300 block of S Junction Avenue Wednesday at 10:59 p.m., law enforcement was approached by Jordan Cook. He had his fists clenched and was yelling threats of harm towards the deputies.

Cook was placed at taser point and quickly arrested for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct. He was additionally charged with a probation violation detainer and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged.

 

Two individuals were found camping underneath the Paradise Auto Center wheelchair ramp, leading to a response from Grants Pass Police officers Wednesday afternoon.

The property manager of the 239 Redwood Highway premises called 911 at 4:58 p.m., saying there were two individuals, maybe more, tucked underneath the ramp. One was described as wearing a cowboy hat and sitting in a wheelchair, the other was wearing a green shirt.

One of the suspects, Genero Montalvo, was soon contacted by arriving officers. He was found to have an active warrant out for his arrest from the Oregon Parole Board charging him with Burglary.

Montalvo was trespassed from the property, and subsequently taken into custody for his warrant. Officers proceeded to lodge him in jail.

 

A man concealed WinCo merchandise in a theft attempt early this morning, but was later apprehended by Grants Pass Police.

Loss Prevention from the 231 NE Terry Lane grocery store reported the incident to dispatch around 4:29 a.m. The suspect, Christian Gardner, had taken almost $100 worth of merchandise from the store. He hid it in his clothing, then passed all points of sale, making no attempt to pay for the items.

Staff wished to press charges against Gardner, and upon arrival, officers detained him. A consent search of his person revealed a pipe with residue in his pants pocket. He admitted to possession methamphetamine, and the residue confirmed his confession following a positive field test.

Officers transported Gardner to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility where he was lodged on charges of Meth Possession, and Third Degree Theft.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two men, both wanted on multiple arrest warrants, in separate cases.

Officers contacted James McClung after stopping him on his bike at the corner of E Park Street and SE Vista Drive Wednesday around 1:38 p.m. He was warned for traffic violations, and found to have three warrants out of the Grants Pass Police Department.

McClung was taken into custody for his warrants charging him with Second Degree Theft, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, and Third Degree Escape. Officers transported him to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged.

Another suspect, wanted on four warrants, was contacted early this morning at 5:34. Police had eyes on Mark Mislon wearing a pink hat, face mask, and dark clothing on the corner of NE 6th Street and NE Savage Street.

His identity was confirmed, as were his four warrants out of the police department charging him with Assault, Fentanyl Possession, and two counts of Methamphetamine Possession. Officers took Mislon into custody and lodged him in jail.

 

Emergency crews were alerted to a traffic accident that occurred Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. between Kerby and Selma.

The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, and Oregon State Police responded to the two-vehicle incident at the corner of Redwood Highway and Eight Dollar Road.

According to OSP, scene evidence indicated a white Dodge 1500 attempted to make a dangerous left turn from U.S. Highway 199 northbound when it collided with a southbound black Audi A4.

The operator of the Dodge was warned for making a Dangerous Left Turn, and was cited for Driving Uninsured. The driver of the Audi, who was transported to the hospital for minor injuries, was also issued citations for Driving While Suspended and Driving Uninsured.

The Oregon Department of Forestry witnessed the event and managed the scene until additional fire units arrived. The Oregon Department of Transportation provided support with traffic management. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

 

The Oregon Department of Transportation is reminding travelers they can expect delays of up to 15 minutes on Interstate 5 south of Grants Pass this evening.

Beginning at about 5 p.m., watch for rolling slowdowns in the northbound and southbound lanes between Rogue River Exit 48 and Exit 55 at South Grants Pass while utility crews replace power lines over the interstate.

During a rolling slowdown, traffic control vehicles hold traffic to a slow but steady pace to give utility crews time to access the power lines. This allows crews to work safely while keeping traffic moving, avoiding lengthy road closures. Emergency vehicles will be allowed to pass through as needed.

The work will be completed in about 45 minutes. Expect congestion, watch for pilot cars, and use caution when traveling through the work zone. Use an alternate route or postpone travel until traffic clears to avoid delays. Check TripCheck.com for the latest information.

After a break for the holiday weekend, utility crews will return up to three more times in the coming weeks to complete the power line replacement.

 

Grants Pass's City Council passed a resolution authorizing the City Manager to close resting beds when beds are available at Parker's Place. Elk Island Trading Group has been preparing Parker Place to accommodate 150 persons, but unforeseen complications have slowed the completion of the site. A portion will be complete very soon and will open with a 40-person capacity. There is a waiting list for those beds. The remaining buildings are expected to follow soon. The vote to approve was 4 to 3 with Councilors Victoria Marshall, Kathleen Krohn and Erich Schloegl voting no.The Grants Pass City Council approved an ordinance adopting a public installed reimbursement district for the Allen Creek Road Regional Storm water pond. This allows the City as the applicant to recover a portion of the costs. Property owners that will receive benefit from the storm water pond will be required to pay upon application to connect to the facility. A second ordinance was approved creating a developer installed reimbursement district for Consolidated Estates. The project will install about 350 lineal feet of street and water improvements and 323 feet of sewer improvements from the west end of Southwest J Street to Lincoln Road. Properties receiving benefit from the improvements will be required to pay upon connection.Councilors approved a supplemental budget for fiscal year 2026 creating changes in the general fund. Most of the changes have very little impact and are incorporated with the recommended fiscal year '27' operating and capital budget.A request for permission for commercial activity and a waiver of park fees except for the security deposit was approved to allow Blaze-N-Monkey's LLC to create the fourth annual 4th of July free community. The Council, acting as the Urban Renewal Agency, approved a resolution establishing vandalism grant program.