Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man twice at a local motel this week -- once on an outstanding warrant and the second time when he trespassed at the lodging facility. The Police Department reports the first incident involving 60-year-old Clint Edward Robertson at the Super 8 Motel on NE 7th Street occurred on Monday night. Police said a motel employee called 9-1-1 to report Robertson and his female companion were fighting, drawing several complaints from other guests. Officers contacted the man while he was walking away from the motel and discovered that he was wanted on a Medford Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to an arrest for 4th-Degree Assault. After Robertson was placed into handcuffs, he complained of physical pain and requested medical attention. He was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for evaluation so he was cited to appear in court and released. Early Tuesday morning, the motel employee called 9-1-1 again to report that Robertson had returned after being warned for trespass on Monday night. He walked to the back of the property and was found sleeping in his vehicle. Robertson was placed into custody. During a consent search, he was found to be in possession of a small container with methamphetamine residue. Robertson once again complained of physical pain -- but this time he was taken to the hospital, evaluated, cleared and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Meth Possession and Criminal Trespass.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on an outside felony warrant at a transient camp in Wolf Creek this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 28-year-old Allen Totten Behrle on Monday afternoon. Deputies said they received a tip about transients living near the bridge in Wolf Creek Park. They located the camp and a male subject later identified as Behrle fled on foot. He returned to the camp a short time later and was detained. A routine records check showed that Behrle was wanted on a Medford Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Theft, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. Behrle was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked on the outstanding warrant. He was being held pending transfer to the Jackson County Jail in Medford.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department extinguished a fire that moved quickly through blackberries and damaged an unoccupied horse trailer west of Grants Pass this week. Rural Metro crews responded to the reported fire in the Jerome Prairie area on Monday afternoon. The fire -- which was held to only 1/100th of an acre -- was the result of an escaped open burn located on Jerome Prairie Road near Woodland Park Road. Officials said the proximity of the burn pile next to blackberries, a gust of wind and loss of water due to a power outage led to the escape. Despite rain showers and the official end of the 2024 fire season, safe debris burning still carries some requirements. Even though the risk of catastrophic wildfire is greatly reduced, the possibility of flames damaging valuable items nearby is still possible. Rural Metro officials encourage residents to keep burn piles small and manageable, maintain a buffer around the pile to prevent spread, stay in attendance for the duration of the burn, have a shovel and reliable water source on hand, don't burn in breezy conditions and keep a charged cell phone in your possession to call 9-1-1 if the burn escapes.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will continue its first public hearing on a proposed rural fire protection district as part of a busy agenda for its weekly business session this morning. The Board will continue the hearing on the first reading of an order that would form the Josephine County Rural Fire Protection District and set the date for the second hearing and potential adoption of the order. Another public hearing will be held for the adoption of a supplemental budget for the current fiscal year and a third public hearing will be held for an application to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. They will be followed by a presentation of the American Rescue Plan Act quarterly report. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board will make an appointment to the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council and re-appointments to the Fair Board. Next the Commissioners will convene as the governing body of the 4-H Extension Service District to hold a public hearing for repaying the loan of money to the district from the Josephine County General Fund. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Tomorrow is Halloween and the Grants Pass Downtown Merchants will once again provide a big "treat" for young ghosts, goblins, monsters and super heroes. The Annual Downtown Trick or Treat event runs from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday. Downtown merchants will be handing out free candy to trick-or-treaters in this safe and fun event. Come visit the newly-remodeled Downtown Welcome Center at the corner of 6th and G streets. This event is sponsored in part by a new organization called "Main Street Grants Pass." It's a collective of dedicated business and property owners who are leading an impact-driven movement dedicated to re-energizing and strengthening the heart and soul of our community.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Tuesday announced a joint operation that resulted in the arrests of 16 suspects across Southern Oregon following the execution of numerous search warrants. Those arrested were charged with drug and weapon violations. During the operation, law enforcement personnel seized approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine, 1/4-pound of heroin, one ounce of cocaine, 1,000 pounds of processed marijuana, nine firearms, over $100,000 in cash and two vehicles. Thirteen of the arrestees are Josephine County residents while two are Jackson County residents and one is from California The months-long investigation found a suspected group of narcotics dealers was coordinating the trafficking of large amounts of drugs in Josephine and Jackson counties. Detectives were able to gather enough evidence to apply for warrants. GPPD and DEA -- along with personnel from the Central Point Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, Rogue Area Drug Enforcement, Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives -- significantly impacted the availability of narcotics in Southern Oregon communities.

 

Due to wet weather patterns and the official end of the 2024 fire season in southwest Oregon, federal and state officials have elected to rescind all campfire restrictions within the boundaries of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have rescinded the public use restrictions of the Wild and Scenic Rogue as well as the Industrial Fire Precaution Level. The Wild Section flows from Grave Creek to the mouth of Watson Creek. The BLM administers the stretch of river between Grave Creek and Marial while the Forest Service manages from Marial downriver to Watson Creek. Fire pans are required year-round for all campfires within 400 feet of the Rogue River. A shovel and bucket are required for all rafting parties. Cutting firewood is prohibited. Although several fires on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District started this past weekend, fire behavior is now low, having been significantly moderated by recent precipitation.

 

Josephine Community Library and WorkSource Oregon are offering a Computer Basics Lab open to the public every other Thursday in Grants Pass. The Computer Basics Lab is being held from 2-3:30 p.m. at WorkSource Rogue Valley, which is located at 1569 NE F Street. The program provides an opportunity to improve computer skills in a hands-on environment. No library card or WorkSource enrollment is required. Topics range from Basic Computer Usage to Using Word and Excel programs. Tomorrow, October 31st, the topic is "Files, Folders and Online Storage." The topic on November 14th will be "Using the Internet and Internet Safety." The topic on December 5th will be "Email Setup and Use." The topic on December 19th will be "Word and Excel." No registration is required, but space is limited. For more information, contact Josephine Community Library at (541)-476-0571.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will continue its first public hearing on a proposed rural fire protection district as part of a busy agenda for its weekly business session tomorrow morning. The Board will continue the hearing on the first reading of an order that would form the Josephine County Rural Fire Protection District and set the date for the second hearing and potential adoption of the order. Another public hearing will be held for the adoption of a supplemental budget for the current fiscal year and a third public hearing will be held for an application to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. They will be followed by a presentation of the American Rescue Plan Act quarterly report. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board will make an appointment to the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council and re-appointments to the Fair Board. Next the Commissioners will convene as the governing body of the 4-H Extension Service District to hold a public hearing for repaying the loan of money to the district from the Josephine County General Fund. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.