Local News

The Grants Pass City Council is exploring the possible privatization of Caveman Pool. During the Monday workshop session, Parks Superintendent Josh Hopkins gave an update on potential renovations to the city-owned municipal pool located near the campus of Grants Pass High School. Hopkins reminded the Council that a Caveman Pool Committee was appointed in May 2023 and the committee came up with a $6.5 million proposal to renovate the facility in September 2024. However in January of this year, the newly-seated City Council voted to halt the project and redistribute the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to improving public safety communications. Hopkins presented a new plan to renovate Caveman Pool at a total cost of just over $1.5 million, but it was not well-received by members of the Council. Councilor Kathleen Krohn floated the idea of transferring ownership of the pool to the Grants Pass School District or Grants Pass Family YMCA. It was decided that City Manager Aaron Cubic will reach out to the school district and YMCA to see if they might be interested in taking over the municipal pool.

 

Britt Music & Arts Festival is sharing some exciting announcements with the community regarding this summer's events. The time has come for Britt to release its final official list of shows for the 2025 season. This installment brings the summer season to 37 shows including 29 Britt "Live" concerts and eight Britt Festival Orchestra performances. Tickets for most Britt concerts are already on sale to the general public including shows featuring Natasha Bedingfield, Wynonna Judd, Andy Grammer, Taj Mahal, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Chicago. The Britt Education Department is also sharing its summer schedule of free kids concerts. This year's roster offers a dynamic mix of artists and musical styles, with shows available in both Jackson and Josephine counties. As part of its work to expand its reach, several Britt Kids Concerts will be held at Riverside Park in Grants Pass. For more information on all concerts and tickets, please visit "brittfest.org."

 

The Grants Pass Police Department apprehended a homicide suspect on Sunday at a boat landing on the Rogue River. The Police Department reports detectives arrested 30-year-old James Dale Ross at Robertson Bridge Boat Landing at 3:48 p.m. yesterday. Police said a man who was with Ross called 9-1-1 and told dispatchers that Ross wanted to speak with law enforcement, but he was unsure on how to go about it. The caller would not tell dispatchers where they were and added that the suspect has mental health issues. According to the report, the suspect's location was determined by the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center. Detectives located Ross in a sport utility vehicle parked at the boat landing and they placed him into custody without incident. Ross was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 2nd-Degree Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was being held without bail. So far, no details about the alleged homicide have been released by GPPD.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on a local felony warrant during a weekend patrol check in the northwest corner of the city. According to the Police Department, officers contacted three people -- including 35-year-old Sarah Elizabeth Roddy -- in a vehicle parked near the corner of NW Highland Avenue and Vine Street on Friday shortly after 9 p.m.. Police said they arrested Roddy when they discovered that she was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for drug possession. They said she was also found to be in possession of a glass pipe that tested positive for methamphetamine residue. Roddy was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. She was being held on a no-bail detainer. Roddy's companions -- identified by police as "Jessica Green" and "Bridget Carroll" -- were ordered to move the vehicle.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman for throwing rocks at vehicles near Rogue Community College. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and the Oregon State Police responded to the incident near the corner of Demaray and College drives on Saturday around 10:25 p.m.. Deputies said callers reported a female subject wearing a dark hoodie and jeans was throwing rocks at moving cars. They said one vehicle was hit with rocks on its hood, windshield and door where a child was sitting. No one was injured. Upon arrival, deputies and state troopers located 46-year-old Robin Lea Dunham and placed her into custody. Dunham was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested three people for trespassing on a property in the Merlin area late last week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident in the 2200-block of Galice Road on Friday shortly after midnight. Deputies said the property caretaker called 9-1-1 to report multiple subjects had entered the property without permission. The caller advised there have been ongoing issues with subjects entering the property and stealing equipment. Upon arrival, deputies located three subjects they identified as 40-year-old Joshua John Brower, 33-year-old Joshua Michael Roberts and 28-year-old Kelsie Leigh Tamblin near a barn on the property. All three were placed into custody. Brower, Roberts and Tamblin were lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after a weekend traffic stop near the South Y. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a wrong-way driver near the intersection of the Grants Pass Parkway and Rogue River Highway on Saturday around 2 a.m.. Police said they observed a driver they later identified as "36-year-old Christopher J. Matson" merge his vehicle onto Redwood Highway from the intersection of Williams Highway northbound toward South 6th Street, which is one-way traffic in the opposite direction. He then made a U-turn at East Park Street back onto southbound Highway 238 where he eventually stopped. Upon contact with Matson, officers said he displayed numerous indicators of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. He was ultimately lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. His vehicle was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a Grants Pass motorist for causing a weekend crash on the east side of the city. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision at the intersection of the Grants Pass Parkway and NE Agness Avenue at 4:37 p.m. Saturday. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated a Ford Escape driven by 35-year-old Andrea Alyce Brundige made an illegal U-turn and crashed into a Subaru Impreza driven by a 70-year-old Grants Pass woman. No injuries were reported and neither vehicle was towed. According to OSP, Brundige was uncooperative and did not wish to answer any questions about the wreck while the other woman was very cooperative and told troopers what happened, which matched observations and evidence. Following the investigation, Brundige was cited for an unspecified violation.

 

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.