Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a corrections client for violating terms of his probation following a weekend traffic stop on Redwood Highway. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a large box truck driven by 42-year-old Guy Caley McFarland in the 600-block of US Highway 199 on Sunday at 12:15 p.m.. Police said the truck McFarland was driving had no license plates and they stopped it as it pulled into the Pinnacle 365 store. They said the driver had a suspended license, no insurance and expired registration tags on the vehicle. His corrections officer was contacted and she requested the arrest of her client. McFarland was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Probation Violation related to arrests for Criminal Mischief and Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. He was also cited for the traffic violations and was being held on a no-bail detainer. According to GPPD, the box truck was impounded.

 

Grants Pass parks staff have added ADA-compliant wood fiber to the Orbiter at Riverside Park to ensure a safe, more accessible play surface for all users. During routine inspections, one of the department's Certified Playground Safety Inspectors discovered and replaced broken spring cups on a teeter-totter to prevent potential injuries. Parks crews finished removing downed and damaged trees from recent storms. In partnership with the Urban Area Tree Advisory Committee, 12 new locations were identified and trees were planted along the 6th Street right-of-way, with permission from adjacent businesses. Parks officials said these trees will be watered for the next three years to establish healthy root systems, providing long-term benefits such as improved air quality, shade and enhanced urban canopy coverage at the north end of the city.

 

Three new lawsuits have been filed against a regional hospital in Medford and a former nurse. The hospital could now face over $477 million in damages. Oregon Public Broadcasting reports alleged victims and their surviving relatives filed three new civil lawsuits against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center and former nurse Dani Marie Schofield last week, with more expected soon, according to attorneys representing the plaintiffs. The Jackson County District Attorney's Office charged Schofield with 44 counts of second-degree assault last year. Authorities accuse her of swapping patients' liquid fentanyl with non-sterile tap water, causing infections in dozens of patients. At least 16 of those alleged victims died. The latest complaints name James Geear, Jill Baylor and Kevin Jay Hughes as being under the care of Asante and Schofield when they developed bacterial infections. Hughes died due to his infection, according to the complaint filed by his estate. The lawsuits seek from $6 million to over $9 million in damages. Not all of those lawsuits name Schofield, who is out on $4 million bail. Her first pre-trial criminal hearing is scheduled for April 28th.

 

The Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management has reopened the Rogue River National Recreation Trail after crews created a path around a large landslide that occurred from heavy rains in March. Wildland firefighters from BLM's Veteran Crew 10 -- along with BLM recreation staff -- were able to clear the landslide and re-route the trail around a large boulder. The crews also removed several downed trees and addressed other issues along the first few miles of the trail near the Grave Creek Boat Landing. The Rogue River Trail is rated as difficult due to the remote nature of the path, tall cliffs, potential for downed trees, landslides and high water in creeks. Hikers may still encounter smaller landslides, unstable footing, erosion and other storm-related impacts along the trail. If you find damage on BLM lands, please report it to the Medford District Office at (541)-618-2000. The Rainie Falls Trail on the opposite of the Rogue River has also been repaired and is now open for public use.

 

Mount Ashland Ski Area has announced the launch of its new mobile app, which is designed to enhance the guest experience and provide real-time updates for visitors to the resort. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices through the Apple App Store and Google Play. It serves as the ultimate companion for anyone planning an adventure at Mount Ashland. Upon signing up, users will gain access to a variety of features including real-time updates on mountain operations, weather forecasts and personalized alerts based on individual interests. Guest can track ski and snowboard stats, connect with friends on the mountain and received tailored notifications to improve their overall experience. Whether carving through fresh powder or planning a future visit, the Mount Ashland Ski Area Mobile App will be an indispensable resource for all activities. For more information, please visit "mtashland.com."

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a nationwide fugitive after a weekend traffic stop in the New Hope area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by 42-year-old Dixie Alliea Rhodes near the intersection of New Hope and Fish Hatchery roads on Saturday at 5:49 p.m.. Deputies said they stopped Rhodes for a moving violation and quickly discovered that she was wanted on a felony warrant issued by the Versailles, Kentucky, Police Department for Theft-by-Deception Over $10,000 and Possession of a Forged Instrument. After the warrant was confirmed, Rhodes was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. She was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings that will likely send her back to Kentucky.

 

A patrol check in the downtown area late last week led to the arrest of a man on a Grants Pass felony warrant. Grants Pass Police contacted 39-year-old Charles Lee Shull near the corner of NE B and 8th streets on Friday morning. Police said they were on patrol when they spotted Shull whom they knew was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for 3rd-Degree Robbery. He was placed into custody without incident. Shull was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for trespassing at a family member's residence over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing call in the 2,000-block of Opie Place on Saturday around 9:20 p.m.. Police said 41-year-old Amber Marie Al-Sarf was called in as the subject of a trespass at a home where her sister resides. They said she had previously been trespassed from the residence in March when she was given a courtesy warning. Al-Sarf's sister reported that she left in a car and officers were able to track her down at the Taco Bell on Allen Creek Road where she was placed into custody. Al-Sarf was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and she was being held without bail. Jail records show she has been arrested several times recently for stealing beer and food from local convenience stores.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested an Albany man for impaired driving following a weekend traffic stop on Interstate 5 near the Hugo Exit. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford F-250 driven by 28-year-old Cameron Albert Gillott in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 67 on Friday at 9:05 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Gillott due to observed violations and him possibly fleeing the scene of a crash. They said he displayed several signs of impairment, so he was placed into custody and transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly twice the legal driving limit. Gillott was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was lodged at the Sobering Center and the investigation was continuing. His pickup was impounded due to the DUII arrest and being involved in a crash.