Local News

The Josephine County District Attorney's Office has filed charges against two accused drug dealers. Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) arrested 61-year-old Michael Anthony Malara and 40-year-old Trisha Ann Marry Merk in two separate locations last Thursday. RADE reports Malara was found to be in possession of more than seven pounds of methamphetamine at a residence on Fish Hatchery Road while Merk was found to be in possession nearly 14 pounds of meth plus digital scales, a drug ledger, $6,320 in cash and eight firearms at a residence on Frederick Court in Cave Junction. According to the DA's Office, Malara and Merk were charged separately with Unlawful Possession and Delivery of Methamphetamine on Friday. Both were being held over the weekend without bail at the Josephine County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a well-known offender for violating his probation late last week by stealing merchandise from two local retailers. The Police Department reports officers arrested 31-year-old Kody Tyler Halverson at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Friday afternoon. Police said Halverson was seen on surveillance video selecting $121 worth of items and then passing all points of sale without paying for them. When contacted by officers in the loss prevention office, he was found to be in possession of more than $200 worth of items he had stolen from Walmart. According to the report, the items at Walmart had not been reported stolen -- but Walmart was notified and wanted to pursue charges against the suspect. Halverson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of 2nd-Degree Theft, one count of 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass and the resulting Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for causing a weekend crash, fleeing the scene and being found with narcotics when he was lodged in jail. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle collision near the corner of NW Booth and C streets on Saturday at about 4:15 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined 44-year-old Joshua Colin Hawkins was driving a Ford Escape when he struck a GMC Yukon and fled north on Dimmick Street toward Highland Avenue. A witness reported seeing the suspect throw what appeared to be beer bottles from the vehicle as he drove away from the scene. Officers searched the Highland area and were unable to locate the suspect vehicle, but they found it a short time later in a closed garage at a home in the 1100-block of C Street. They contacted Hawkins and conducted an interview before placing him into custody. Hawkins was being booked into the Josephine County Jail when he was found to be in possession of unspecified drugs. He was lodged for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and Felony Supplying Contraband to a Jail Facility.

 

A Grants Pass motorcyclist was both injured and cited after he crashed his bike on Caveman Bridge over the weekend. Grants Pass Police and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle wreck on the 6th Street span over the Rogue River on Saturday around 9 p.m.. Police said an investigation indicated that 44-year-old Neil Lynch was accelerating at a high rate of speed on SW 6th Street when the crash occurred. A witness stated the motorcycle's rear wheel lost traction on the wet pavement, which caused the bike to strike the right curb on the bridge and the rider laid it down after losing control. According to the report, Lynch was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash -- but he sustained serious leg injuries from the impact. He was semi-conscious when emergency services arrived on scene. He was transported by ambulance to Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford. Lynch was cited at the hospital for Careless Driving and Failure to Maintain Lane. He was in possession of a firearm that was logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

No one was hurt when a vehicle struck a deer on Redwood Highway near Cave Junction. On Saturday at 12:23 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon Department of Transportation responded to the incident near milepost 27 of US Highway 199. IVFD officials said arriving units found a single vehicle with significant front-end damage consistent with a deer collision. They said no occupants were injured. The vehicle was hauled into town by Jerry's Towing. Firefighters were unable to locate the deer, which was likely deceased.

 

The Grants Pass Parks Division completed several important projects across the parks system last week. Parks crews finished planting the Memorial Trees in multiple locations to enhance the green spaces in our community. At Reinhart Volunteer Park, workers replaced rotten fence boards to maintain park aesthetics and safety. They also installed new playground stairs at both Riverside and Westholm parks, which were covered under warranty from the manufacturer, saving taxpayer dollars. Staff also addressed a concern at the Gilbert Creek Park playground by replacing a handrail after its PVC coating had failed, creating sharp points. This replacement was done as a precaution to ensure the safety of park visitors. In preparation for the upcoming baseball and softball seasons, crews spread six tons of Turface on four of the most heavily used fields at the All Sports Park. Turface is a soil additive that helps to regulate moisture for infields. It also helps to keep fields playable by preventing them from becoming oversaturated or dried out.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters provided a strong layer of protection for the community last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 532 calls for service along with 220 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 40 arrests, 36 citations, 42 warnings and four highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 51 traffic stops in the city and they made 17 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of eight contacts with potential troublemakers, generating two arrests, three warnings and three citations for trespassing. Due to the current lawsuit and restraining order, the CRT team was limited in its enforcement of public camping restrictions. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 102 calls last week including 54 for emergency medical service, three for reports of fire or smoke, 20 lift assists, four rescue situations, five assists to other agencies and seven false alarms. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,037 emergency calls last week.

 

The Grants Pass Public Safety Advisory Committee will hold their very first meeting tomorrow morning. The newly-formed committee will meet on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Grants Pass Police Department Training Room, located at 726 NE 7th Street. Committee members include Tom Brandes, William Lovelace, Terry Hopkins, Alan Hartford, Jay Meredith and Matthew Rosen. Liaison members are Grants Pass Police Captain Tyler Lee and Grants Pass Fire Battalion Chief Joe Hyatt. The purpose of the committee is to advise the City Council on matters pertaining to community engagement, research and analysis, community facilitation and resource identification. The committee will help to facilitate communication between the public and the City about public safety planning matters. Action items for this first meeting include electing a Chair and Vice-Chair. There will also be a public comment period in which each speaker will be given three minutes to address the Committee.

 

The National Weather Service has posted a Wind Advisory for southwest Oregon. The Wind Advisory for Josephine, Jackson, eastern Curry and eastern Douglas counties runs from 10 a.m. today until 1 a.m. Tuesday. Southwest winds from 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 45 miles per hour are expected. Stronger wind gusts are possible within thunderstorms during the late morning and afternoon hours today. Weather experts say gusty winds will blow around and damage unsecured objects. Tree damage is likely and power outages may occur as a result of downed limbs. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Use extra caution during the advisory period. Secure light outdoor objects to prevent damage or loss.