Local News

The Spring Burn Window is open in the City of Grants Pass, but participants need to acquire a permit and check the weather conditions before burning natural debris. Grants Pass fire officials said the spring burn window started Saturday and it runs through next Sunday, May 12th. City residents can apply for their permits online or in person today through Friday at the Grants Pass Public Safety Station at 800 East Park Street. Burn permits are offered through Grants Pass Fire Community Connect at "sizeup.firstduesizeup.com/cc/grants/auth/signin." Log in and sign up for your permit. Permits are offered in person from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m.. Burning is only allowed if the DEQ Ventilation Index for the Grants Pass Airshed is 400 or greater. It is the responsibility of each person to check the airshed rating before burning. The most up-to-date airshed information is available by calling the Burn Line at (541)-476-9663 or (541)-476-WOOD. Press Option 3 after 7 a.m.. Burn information is also available daily on KAJO Radio often before 7 a.m..

 

New information released last week shows the number of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in Oregon at its lowest point since June 2020, dropping about 34% in April. Additionally, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital intensive care units is at its lowest point since April 2020. Oregon Health Authority data shows 82 adults were hospitalized with COVID-19 on April 30th, six of whom were in the ICU. Test percentage positivity was also at its lowest point (2.4%) since June 2020. OHA officials said COVID-19 is still out there and they expect case numbers to rise again, likely this fall and winter. However, overall community transmission is currently low. Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for OHA's communicable diseases and immunizations, said COVID-19 is still with us and will always be with us. But he thinks there is substantial immunity to a number of variants within our population, and many of us have been vaccinated repeatedly with different variations of the virus. The virus is also far less likely to cause death than it once was. OHA recommends everyone be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination. That includes people ages 65 and over getting a second dose of the 2023-24 vaccine.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters held form last week as they protected the community. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 590 calls for service along with 256 officer-initiated calls that resulted in 51 arrests, 27 citations, 34 warnings and four highly intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 44 traffic stops in the city and they made 22 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 199 contacts with potential trouble-makers while arresting one person, citing 45 more and warning 83 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 26 individuals, posted 110 transient camps and removed trash from three campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 74 calls last week including 25 for emergency medical service, three for reports of fire or smoke, 10 lift assists, seven rescue situations, eight assists to other agencies and six false alarms. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 1,003 emergency calls last week.

 

Pacific Power is offering a new energy program called "Optimal Time Rewards" for residential customers across Oregon and Washington to help them manage costs while creating a more resilient and sustainable grid. Participants in the Optimal Time Rewards program can earn incentives of up to $50 plus ongoing incentives by partnering with Pacific Power to more effectively manage spikes in demand and fluctuations of power supply. Optimal Time Rewards is one of a portfolio of energy efficiency and demand response programs, the utility is offering to help keep energy costs low for everyone through the use of smart technology. There are two ways to participate. Residential customers can enroll a smart thermostat connected to electric heating or cooling equipment. Customers in multi-family housing can also enroll an electric water heater. Residential customers who want to learn more about enrolling a smart thermostat can visit the Pacific Power Optimal Time Rewards website at "pacificpower.net/OTR."

 

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued 11 penalties totaling more than $231,000 in March for various environmental violations -- including a construction company in Josephine County. Fines ranged from $450 to $87,600. Alleged violations included hazardous waste violations and not testing or maintaining underground fuel storage tanks. According to DEQ, Caswell Thompson, LLC, of Grants Pass was fined $7,511 for stormwater violations related to construction activities without a permit. Organizations or individuals must either pay the fines to the state treasury or file an appeal within 20 days of receiving notice of the penalty. They may be able to offset a portion of the penalty by funding a supplemental project that improves Oregon's environment. DEQ works with thousands of organizations and individuals to help them comply with laws that protect Oregon's air, land and water. The agency uses education, technical assistance, warnings and penalties to change behavior and deter future violations.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a patient for his extremely rude behavior toward a nurse at Three Rivers Medical Center this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue early Thursday morning. Police said the 32-year-old male subject subjected an emergency room nurse to offensive physical conduct by spitting on him while he was attempting to provide care. The nurse wanted to press charges, so the patient was placed into custody. The suspect -- who was identified by GPPD as Zachary Clayton Grange Dumont -- was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment and he was being held without bail.

 

A Friday trespassing complaint at a Cave Junction church led to the apprehension of a fugitive wanted for escaping custody in Washington state. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted 38-year-old Kristle Lynne Smart at Immanuel Methodist Church on West Watkins Street in Cave Junction at about 11 a.m. yesterday. Deputies said Smart was reported to be trespassing at the church and she was found to be wanted on a Washington Department of Corrections warrant for Escape from Community Custody. She was detained and then taken into custody. Smart was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. She was awaiting extradition proceedings that will likely send her back to Washington. She was also trespassed from the church for one year.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended an out-of-state fugitive while investigating a shoplifting complaint at a downtown convenience store early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 45-year-old male subject for the incident at 7-Eleven on SW 6th Street on Friday at about 1:20 a.m.. Police said the man intended to deprive the store of its property when he passed all points of sale with approximately $22 worth of items without paying for them. He was located and detained by the Oregon State Police while officers responded. The suspect's identity was confirmed through dispatch and a routine records check showed that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft. It also showed that he was wanted as a fugitive from another unspecified state. No other details were available. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant along with the new Petty Theft charges. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested three people who were illegally camping on public land earlier this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted the trio during a patrol check at a large transient camp on BLM Road 38-7-21. The transient camp was described as a complete mess, with trash and other items scattered around. Deputies said two of the subjects -- a 55-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman -- were charged with Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and Offensive Littering. They were lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. The other subject -- a 55-year-old man -- was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. He was cited and released due to an unspecified medical condition. According to the report, the BLM property has been the location of several camps in recent years. A few months ago, parts to a stolen airplane were found there.