Local News

An American Medical Response rate increase was approved during the Commissioner's Weekly Business Session.

AMR was requesting a 10% increase, believed to be necessary to offset labor costs. There will be no retroactive billing or financial impact on Medicare and Medicaid. The impact will be solely bared by insurance companies.

A motion to approve the increase passed 3-0. Public education, mobile home parks, and the community's elder population were brought up during public comment, and the consent calendar was approved unanimously.

 

Emergency crews were dispatched today at 3:01 a.m. to a local house fire.

Rural Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire and the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District were dispatched to the fire in the 600 block of Timber Lane. Reports indicated that someone was trapped inside.

Crews performed a search of the building while knocking down flames, but were unable to locate the occupant. The fire was confined to the interior, with no spread to surrounding vegetation.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office later located the occupant on Interstate 5 near the Manzanita Rest Area, who was eventually transported by American Medical Response to the hospital for an evaluation. With assistance from the Oregon State Fire Marshal, Rural Metro is investigating the cause.

 

Containment on the Anderson Butte Road Fire has increased to 50% following another day of hard work by firefighters. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, the fire remains at 78 acres, with all control lines holding as crews continue to secure the perimeter and extinguish remaining heat. Firefighters have now completed mop-up approximately 200 feet inward from the perimeter, further securing the fire’s edge. Snagging operations have also been completed throughout the areas crews have been able to safely access. Some smoke remains visible in the interior of the fire, particularly in a steep drainage where heavy concentrations of hazardous trees make access difficult. Crews continue to assess these areas and address remaining heat where they can do so safely.

 

The County Commissioners moved to amend an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation for the Althhouse Creek Bridge replacement project.

During their 1:30 p.m. workshop, the board was unanimous in approval of the rehabilitation. Funding of about $2.7 million is currently in place. Also approved was an ODOT agreement amendment for public transit funds, adding 25 cents to the agreement amount to help cover preventive maintenance expenses. No county funds will be spent.

Transit's software renewal agreement with Spare was approved unanimously, with an annual fee of $50,400 paid for by federal and state funds. Motions to appoint five new members to the Economic Development Committee, re-appoint Karl Heackler to the Fair Board, and task Nate Sanders with being Project Coordinator for Josephine Regional Inter-Operational Systems carried 3-0.

Commissioner Colene Martin gave a County Communications update, saying she met with the Emergency Manager of Grants Pass to discuss a complete communication system overhaul. An independent power developer was identified that could build towers on county properties. It would own and work on said structures, potentially providing better coverage. A Homeland Security Grant will be applied for.

All Human Resources position requisitions were approved without objection, and a Finance board order motion to temporarily delegate signing authority during an upcoming absence of the director passed unanimously.

 

Oregon State Police issued a criminal citation to a man standing on the shoulder of Interstate 5 Monday.

The trooper responded around 7:16 p.m. to a suspicious suspect just off I-5 southbound at milepost 54. He was contacted by law enforcement, and discovered to have a misdemeanor warrant out for his arrest.

He was identified as Michael Todnem, 36, of Grants Pass, and provided a ride to Rogue River where he was subsequently issued a citation. He was released shortly thereafter.

 

A woman was cited by Grants Pass Police following a Fred Meyer shoplifting report Monday afternoon.

Dispatch was alerted by asset protection at the 1101 Grants Pass Parkway store that Theresa Anderson was in custody after a theft attempt. She had reportedly passed all points of sale after concealing about $240 worth of merchandise, with no attempt to pay.

Anderson was lying to staff but otherwise being cooperative according to loss prevention, who wished to pursue for theft and trespassing charges against her. Officers arrived and took Anderson into custody. She was trespassed from the business, cited to appear for Second Degree Theft, and released..

 

A Walmart shoplifting suspect was arrested by Grants Pass Police after she attempted to steal almost $400 worth of merchandise.

The suspect, Venessa McCafferty, was cooperative upon being detained Monday around 12:36 p.m. by loss prevention at the 135 NE Terry Lane store. Dispatch was informed she had bypassed all points and attempted to leave with unpurchased merchandise.

Surveillance of the incident was captured, and upon contact with police, McCafferty was found to be in possession of a crystalline substance. She was trespassed from the Walmart, and taken into custody.

Officers lodged McCafferty in the Josephine County Jail. A charge of Methamphetamine Possession was referred to the District Attorney's Office.

 

Grants Pass Police detained a woman wanted on a trespass warrant following a welfare check.

Monday at 6:34, Jessica Knowlton was detained by officers at the corner of SE 8th Street and SE L Street. She was seen entering a vehicle in the area of the check, and a traffic stop was conducted. Officers found Knowlton was wanted on an active and serviceable warrant.

She was charged with Second Degree Trespass out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office. Following confirmation of her identity and warrant, she was transported to the Adult Jail Facility and lodged.

 

The Board of Commissioners and Grants Pass City Council met for their monthly update meeting to discuss public land parking, car camping, and a potential Youth Community Center.

The meeting began at 11 a.m. with a potential joint parking venture discussion. A rough estimate from Mayor Clint Scherf for the venture, with the potential opportunity to increase density, was a few million dollars. Council brought the topic to the board to see if there was interest in the community for such a venture, and will bring a parking study to the board for future discussion.

Car camping on the Urban Growth Boundary or on County property was discussed next, where a venture was proposed to potentially set aside land for parking and car camping, where Sheriff's deputies and Police Department units would have shared access.

Lastly, the mayor wanted further conversation to be considered by the board about a fairgrounds building being utilized as a fulltime community center, saying there was a lack of a community resource for the youth. Following a discussion about board and council planning departments, the meeting adjourned, with the three topics discussed today set to be continued during the next Monthly Update.