Local News

Local Firefighters Contained Pine Tree Way Structure Fire in Selma to Garage
A Monday evening structure fire destroyed a garage in Selma, but no one was hurt and it did not spread to any other buildings. The Illinois Valley Fire District, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the reported fire on Pine Tree Way near Clear Creek Road at 6:22 p.m.. IVFD officials said arriving units found a significant fire engulfing a garage, but the blaze was contained to the garage, extinguished and fully-suppressed. There were no injuries reported among civilians or firefighters. Officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation. Meanwhile, the Pine Tree Way fire was just one of four that Rural Metro crews responded to in a 74-minute period late yesterday. The fires mobilized around 20 emergency vehicles from Rural Metro, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, IVFD and AMR. Rural Metro officials said three of the fires turned out to be non-hazardous open burns, called in by passersby who assumed they were buildings.
Posted on 1/21/25 6:10AM by Sam Marsh
 

Applications Being Accepted for Seat on GP Public Safety Advisory Committee
Applications are being accepted for one position on the Grants Pass Public Safety Advisory Committee. This position is for a three-year term. The Public Safety Advisory Committee serves as a collaborative platform for community engagement and guidance on public safety matters. The committee aims to bridge the gap between the Grants Pass community and City Council to ensure that public safety strategies align with the needs and resources of the community. The special qualification for this position is a downtown business owner. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, February 21st. Appointments will be made by the Grants Pass City Council at their regular meeting on Wednesday, March 5th.
Posted on 1/21/25 6:09AM by Sam Marsh
 

Five Local Organizations Received OHA's "Healthy Homes" Grant Program Funds
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The Oregon Health Authority has awarded $23 million to repair and rehabilitate the homes of low-income residents to eliminate risks to their health to 34 local organizations and the nine federally-recognized tribes of Oregon. The funds come from the Healthy Homes Grant Program (HHGP), established to improve health by rehabilitating living environments throughout Oregon. The state Legislature established the HHGP in 2021. It directs OHA to provide grants to local organizations serving low-income residents to repair and rehabilitate homes. People living in poverty are more likely to live in substandard housing that is not healthy or safe. Five Southern Oregon organizations received HHGP grants including Habitat for Humanity-Rogue Valley, the Illinois Valley Community Response Team, Living Opportunities, Remake Talent and the United Community Action Network (UCAN). Living Opportunities was the largest local grant recipient, receiving $749,496 over a three-year period to improve housing conditions for low-income people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Jackson and Josephine counties. OHA sent letters of intent to successful grant applicants in August and has been working with individual organizations to finalize grant agreements by the end of this month.
Posted on 1/21/25 6:00AM by Sam Marsh
 

State Grants Available for "Main Street" Building Projects in Cities Across Oregon
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The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is offering grants for up to $400,000 in matching funds for downtown revitalization efforts in communities participating in the Oregon Main Street Network. The Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant funds may be used to acquire, rehabilitate and construct buildings on properties in designated downtown areas across the state. Funded projects must facilitate community revitalization that will lead to private investment, job creation or retention, establishing or expanding viable businesses, or creating a strong tax base. Projects may include façade improvement, accessibility enhancement, basic utilities, second floor renovations and more. Only organizations participating in the Oregon Main Street Network are eligible to apply. Projects must be within approved Main Street areas. Eligible organizations may collaborate with local governments and private property owners to apply for projects that will have the biggest benefit to the downtown. The grant application deadline is March 13th. Preservation office staff is happy to talk with applicants about potential grant projects and review applications prior to submitting. To learn more about the grant and workshop, visit "oregonheritage.org."
Posted on 1/21/25 5:58AM by Sam Marsh
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GPHS Art Teacher Offers Commissioned Artwork to Support Scholarship Fund
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An art teacher at Grants Pass High School is inviting local businesses and organizations to partner with him to support his One Sweet World scholarship fund. Joshua Morton is offering to create custom artwork for local businesses in exchange for donations to the scholarship, which has helped Grants Pass students pursue post-secondary education since 2013. Since its creation, Morton has sold his art and donated nearly $40,000 to the fund, which supports high school seniors in his art class who are planning to continue their education after graduation. The scholarship is available to students pursuing any field of study. In exchange for a donation to the One Sweet World Scholarship Fund, Morton will complete an artwork piece tailored to the needs and style of the business or organization. Businesses or organizations interested in commissioning artwork or learning more about the One Sweet World Scholarship Fund can contact Morton at "jmorton@grantspass.k12.or.us."
Posted on 1/21/25 5:56AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Arrested Man on Outside Warrant at Little Falls Campground in the IV
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on an outside warrant while investigating a transient camp in the Illinois Valley. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted 38-year-old Edward Thomas Burke, III, at the Little Falls Campground on Saturday at 3:08 p.m.. Deputies said they were patrolling the campground when they spotted Burke and learned that he was wanted on an Ashland Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. After the warrant was confirmed with APD, Burke was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. His belongings were left with another man who was also camping at Little Falls.
Posted on 1/20/25 10:26AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Nabbed Motorist for Traffic Violation in Highway 199 Stop near Kerby
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for a driving violation following a weekend traffic stop near Kerby. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by 59-year-old Wayne Lee Benson in the 24,500-block of Redwood Highway on Saturday at about 1 p.m.. Deputies said they stopped Benson for a traffic violation and learned that his driving privileges had been suspended. He was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Driving While Revoked. The undescribed vehicle was not towed. It was handed over to its registered owner.
Posted on 1/20/25 10:24AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Man for Returning to Supermarket Where He's Not Welcome
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for returning to a downtown supermarket where he is not welcome. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint involving 30-year-old Jacob Levi Reeder at Safeway on SE 7th Street on Saturday shortly after 9 p.m.. Police said Reeder is well-known to them from previous contacts and well-known to the store manager from previous trespassing incidents. In one of those incidents, the suspect allegedly punched an employee. Officers arrived on scene, contacted Reeder and placed him into custody. He was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.
Posted on 1/20/25 10:22AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Jailed Selma Man for Accosting Contract Crew & TRMC Security Guard
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Selma man late last week for accosting a Pacific Power contract crew and then assaulting a security guard at Three Rivers Medical Center. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a disturbance at a home in the 200-block of Davis Creek Road on Friday during the noon hour. Deputies said a subcontractor for Pacific Power was switching out power poles at that location when they were confronted by 73-year-old Wilber John Morton. The caller advised the man came out of his home, starting screaming at the workers and struck one of them before they retreated off the property. According to the report, the contractor was doing scheduled work, they had talked with Morton the day before and he was cooperative. The workers tried to leave, but they had power lines down and it was an unsafe area. Upon arrival, deputies arrested Morton and transported him to the hospital due to a cut on his head. While at the hospital, they said the suspect kicked a security guard in the stomach and attempted to assault a nurse. Morton was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Menacing, Aggravated Harassment, Harassment, Attempted 3rd-Degree Assault, Attempted 4th-Degree Assault and Resisting Arrest. He was being held without bail until his scheduled Tuesday arraignment.
Posted on 1/20/25 6:01AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Man for Drug-Fueled Weekend Rampage at NE City Apartments
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for a drug-fueled weekend rampage at a northeast city apartment complex. The Police Department reports officers arrested 33-year-old Shelby Anthony Acosta for the incident in the 1700-block of NE Fairview Avenue on Saturday at 10:09 p.m.. Police said Acosta had been called in because he was creating public alarm by banging on apartment windows and exterior walls while screaming. They said he was found to be under the influence of a narcotic stimulant. During a consent search, he threatened to fight officers so they placed him in ankle restraints. A routine records check showed Acosta was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Felony 1st-Degree Assault. Acosta was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Resisting Arrest, Attempted Assault on a Police Officer, Disorderly Conduct and Methamphetamine Possession. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 1/20/25 6:00AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Well-Known Offender on 4 Warrants during Weekend Patrol
Grants Pass Police arrested a man on four local warrants during a weekend patrol check near the SE J Street campground. According to the Police Department, officers were patrolling the area on Friday evening when they spotted 39-year-old Travis Randal Davenport. Police said Davenport was well-known to them from previous law enforcement contacts. They said they knew that he was wanted on three Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession and a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Disorderly Conduct. After the warrants were confirmed, Davenport was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrants. His bail was set at $130,000.
Posted on 1/20/25 5:58AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Motorist for DUII after Weekend Stop on SE Side of City
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving following a weekend traffic stop on the southeast side of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a white Toyota Tacoma driven by a 51-year-old male subject near the corner of Fruitdale and Parkdale drives on Saturday around 1:30 a.m.. Police said they stopped the vehicle because it was weaving across travel lanes and the driver displayed multiple signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Endangering because he had a passenger. He was also warned for traffic violations including Failure to Drive Within Lane and Open Container. His pickup was impounded.
Posted on 1/20/25 5:54AM by Sam Marsh
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