Local News

Josephine County Clerk Officially Certifies Final Results of May 21st Primary Election
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The Josephine County Clerk's Office has released its final tally of ballots and certified the results of the May 21st primary election. The official results show some slight changes in the overall numbers, but the initial winners and losers did not change. In the race for Position #2 on the Josephine County Board of Commissioners, Chris Barnett captured 45.3% of the ballots. He will face fellow candidate Colene Martin in the November general election. She received 23.7% of the vote. In the race for Position #3 on the Board of Commissioners, Pat Fahey received 38.4% of the ballots. He will face fellow candidate Ron Smith in November. Smith grabbed 26.4% of the vote. All three measures on the May ballot went down to defeat. Unofficial statewide results in the Republican race for Senate District #2 show Noah Robinson with a 61.1% to 38.6% victory over Christine Goodwin. In the Democratic race for State Representative District #3, Mark Seligman outdistanced Dustin Watkins 61.3% to 36.5%. He will take on Dwayne Yunker in November. Josephine County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels reported a 39.98% voter turnout as of Thursday. She said 27,913 out of 69,824 registered voters participated in the election.
Posted on 6/14/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh
 

Grants Pass Porchfest 2024 Brings Free Family Fun Plus Some Necessary Street Closures
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Porchfest returns to Grants Pass on Saturday. It's a fun, free and family-friendly music festival taking place on the front porches of vintage homes in the historic NW Washington Boulevard neighborhood. Porchfest features more than 20 musical acts volunteering to perform for your entertainment. The event also includes food vendors, an arts & crafts sale, and it benefits programs for Josephine County Youth. Rogue Gateway Rotary Club organizes Porchfest Grants Pass and uses funds raised from the event to underwrite its own youth programs. They also share a portion of those funds with several non-profit organizations that support Josephine County youth. From 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. tomorrow, several streets will be closed to through traffic to accommodate Porchfest. Detours will be in place on 4th Street between A Street and Evelyn Avenue, Washington Boulevard between Evelyn Avenue and Savage Street, Evelyn Avenue between Washington Boulevard and Lawnridge Avenue, Manzanita Avenue between Hawthorne and Washington, and Lawnridge between Savage and Evelyn. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and find alternate routes.
Posted on 6/14/24 5:55AM by Sam Marsh
 

RCC Commencement Ceremony Set for Saturday AM at Redwood Campus in GP
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Rogue Community College's 53rd annual commencement ceremony is set for this Saturday at the newly remodeled Marjorie Holzgang Concert Bowl located on the Redwood Campus in Grants Pass. RCC Commencement will begin at 10 a.m., celebrating 505 college graduates and 31 GED students. The ceremony will include keynote speeches from students Trenton Jantzer, Kaleb Horman and Marifi Somma, student recognitions and the presentation of degrees and certificates. Special commendations will be given to students who have exhibited outstanding leadership, creativity and service. RCC President Randy Weber said they are incredibly proud of their 2024 graduates. He said each student has shown remarkable resilience and dedication throughout their education journey. He also praised faculty and staff members for their hard work and support. Parking is free on the Redwood Campus and -- for spaces closest to the Concert Bowl entrance -- attendees should use the east entrance to RCC off Demaray Drive. Shuttles will also be available from outlying parking lots on campus.
Posted on 6/13/24 11:48AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Apprehended Man Wanted on State Felony Warrant after GP Area Stop
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant near Grants Pass yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle containing the 49-year-old male subject near the intersection of Upper River Road and Pinecrest Drive on Wednesday at 12:04 p.m.. Two minutes later, the suspect was in custody. Deputies said they were on patrol when they observed a vehicle containing a man and woman that turned onto Carolann Way. After the traffic stop, they confirmed the man was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a recent conviction for a weapons offense. The suspect was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 6/13/24 11:46AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Felon Jailed for Parole Violation after Theft Incident at Dollar Tree on NW 6th
A Grants Pass felon was jailed for violating terms of his post-prison supervision after a shoplifting complaint in the north part of the city late yesterday. Grants Pass Police arrested the 29-year-old male subject for the incident at the Dollar Tree on NW 6th Street on Wednesday at 5:19 p.m.. Police said the man went to Dollar Tree where he drew what looked like a firearm from his clothing, indexed it like a gun and pointed it into the store parking lot, prompting loss prevention to call 9-1-1. While in the store, he selected $3.85 worth of items and passed all points of sale without paying. According to the report, officers tracked the man down a short time later near the intersection of NW Washington Boulevard and Manzanita Avenue where he was placed into custody without incident. He admitted to stealing and the item that resembled a firearm was determined to be a large torch lighter. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and 3rd-Degree Theft plus Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records showed the man has been arrested for violating his parole nine times since October of last year.
Posted on 6/13/24 11:44AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Woman for Accosting Utility Work and Resident on Midland
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for accosting a utility worker and resident in the northwest part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident in the 700-block of NW Midland Avenue on Wednesday shortly after 10 a.m.. Police said the 76-year-old woman asked a utility worker to call 9-1-1 because she was "having a medical emergency and was going to die." The worker rolled up his window, which prompted the woman to break nearby planter pots and throw dirt and rocks at him and the utility truck. The female subject then attempted to have the resident call 9-1-1 for her. She tried to enter the residence, but a woman closed the door in her face. This prompted the suspect to go into the front yard and break a large terra cotta vase valued at about $70. That's when officers arrived on scene and placed her into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Criminal Mischief and Disorderly Conduct, both in the 2nd-Degree. She was being held without bail.
Posted on 6/13/24 11:42AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Investigating Hit-and-Run Crash on Redwood Highway near Cave Junction
The Oregon State Police was investigating a hit-and-run crash that occurred this week on Redwood Highway in the Illinois Valley. According to OSP, troopers responded to a reported hit-and-run near milepost 31 of US Highway 199 south of Cave Junction around midday Tuesday. Troopers said the wreck caused damage to Oregon Department of Transportation and Wild Cat Park's signs and posts. Due to witness statements and debris left at the scene of the incident, the suspect vehicle was identified as a white Nissan SUV. No suspect had been identified as of Wednesday. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to dial *OSP.
Posted on 6/13/24 11:41AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Provides Few Details about Wednesday Night Stops in Josephine County
The Oregon State Police provided few details about two traffic stops that occurred in Josephine County last night. According to OSP, the first incident happened on Wednesday at 9:25 p.m. when troopers pulled over a motorist for speeding near milepost 6 of Redwood Highway. Troopers said the unidentified motorist did not have an operator's license or any insurance on their vehicle. They were cited for the violations and their car was towed. The second incident took place on Wednesday at 11:53 p.m. when troopers pulled over a motorist for a traffic violation in an unspecified location. Troopers said the unidentified driver appeared to be impaired and then performed poorly in field sobriety tests. The driver was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where they provided a breath sample that was more than twice the legal driving limit. They were charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and their vehicle was impounded.
Posted on 6/13/24 11:39AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Incarcerated Man for Setting Up Camp at Parkway Christian Center
Grants Pass Police arrested a man last night for setting up a campsite on a church property from which he had already been trespassed. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the trespassing call at Parkway Christian Center on NE Beacon Drive on Wednesday at 7:49 p.m.. Police said a church employee called 9-1-1 to report a male subject in a dirty white shirt had pitched a tent on the Fairview Avenue side of the complex and refused to leave the premises. The caller wanted the man to remove his tent, belongings and silver scooter from the church property. Officers arrived on scene and determined that the 39-year-old man had been kicked off the property the day before and told not to come back. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and was being held without bail. His belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.
Posted on 6/13/24 11:38AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Police Department Busy Patrolling City Parks on Wednesday
The Grants Pass Police Department was busy patrolling city parks on Wednesday. At Kesterson Park, officers arrested a man wanted on a Douglas County warrant for failing to appear in court for Larceny and Petty Theft. He was cited and then released. Another man was cited for Scattering Rubbish. A total of 11 campsites were posted and an e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network. At Riverside Park, one woman was cited for Inoperable Vehicle while another woman was cited for Misuse of Open Space and issued a 30-day exclusion. A tent and items belonging to a third woman were removed from the park and disposed of when numerous drug paraphernalia items were observed in plain view. A total of 13 campsites were posted and an e-mail was sent to UCAN. At Baker Park, two men nodding off on a bench were cited for Possession of Fentanyl and trespassed for 30 days. A man and woman were cited for Scattering Rubbish and Illegal Camping after they failed to remove their previously posted campsite. They were also trespassed for 30 days. Another man was cited for Misuse of Open Space and Scattering Rubbish. He was also trespassed. A total of 15 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN. At Fruitdale Park, a woman was cited for Possession of Fentanyl and she was issued a 30-day exclusion. Another woman was warned for Buffer Zone Violation, Dog Off Leash and No Dog License. She agreed to leave the park until her dog is properly licensed. Three campsites were posted and an e-mail was sent to UCAN.
Posted on 6/13/24 11:36AM by Sam Marsh
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Two Women Killed When Their Vehicle Slammed into Tree in the Illinois Valley
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Two women were killed this week when their vehicle slammed into a tree off an Illinois Valley roadway near Kerby. In Wednesday afternoon press release, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office reported deputies and emergency personnel were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash in the 4600-block of Reeves Creek Road on Tuesday at 3:08 p.m.. Prior to law enforcement arrival, the driver -- 20-year-old Paige Ellen Collyer -- and the passenger -- 34-year-old Shannon Marie Hewitt -- were pronounced dead by medical personnel. Next of kin have been notified. Deputies said evidence at the scene indicated the 1997 Lexus sedan was traveling north on Reeves Creek at high rate of speed when it failed to negotiate a curve and left the roadway, striking a tree. The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, Oregon State Police and Jerry's Towing assisted at the scene of the double-fatal crash.
Posted on 6/13/24 6:46AM by Sam Marsh
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Two People Hurt in Crash off Redwood Highway near Oregon-California Border
Two people were injured when their vehicle crashed off Redwood Highway near the Oregon-California border yesterday. On Wednesday at about 2:25 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) were dispatched to the single-vehicle accident on US Highway 199 at Green Gate Road near the Agricultural Inspection Station. IVFD officials said CHP and CalTrans were the first to arrive on scene and find the vehicle off the highway with front-end damage. Two people were transported by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation. An investigation into the cause of the crash was being conducted by CHP.
Posted on 6/13/24 6:44AM by Sam Marsh
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