Local News

ODOT RR Highway Seismic Bridge Retrofit to Shut Down Birdseye Creek Bridge
The Oregon Department of Transportation is continuing work on the bridge retrofit project on Rogue River Highway next week and beyond. Starting on Tuesday, Birdseye Creek Bridge on Highway 99 will be closed for approximately 30 days. Please use an alternate route and watch for workers. The contractor has provided a pedestrian transport vehicle that can accommodate at least two ADA passengers, a maximum of 10 able-bodied pedestrians and up to three bicycles with a secured rack during the closure. The ODOT project is replacing bridge structures and Birdseye Creek, Foots Creek and Millers Gulch for earthquake resilience. The estimated project completion date is June 2
Posted on 8/31/24 5:04AM by Chuck Benson
 

GPPD Recognizes Recent Graduation of New Officer from Basic Police Academy
The Grants Pass Police Department is proud to recognize the recent graduation of Alex Skopinich from the Basic Police Academy in Salem. Skopinich distinguished himself as a squad leader and earned the prestigious Victor G. Atiyeh Award, which is given to the top student in each class as recognition for their outstanding performance and leadership. The Basic Police Academy is 16 weeks long and it provides hands-on training on topics such as community policing, firearms, de-escalation and ethics plus more. It is an achievement to graduate, let alone be judged as the top performer. Officer Skopinich has returned to Grants Pass to begin several months of on-the-job training with seasoned officers.
Posted on 8/31/24 5:02AM by Chuck Benson
 

Timber Sale Auction Date Extended on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
A timber sale that was scheduled for auction this week was recently extended until September 19th. The timber sale is named "Secret" and it's located on the Wild Rivers Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. New Forest Supervisor Molly Juillerat said she decided to extend the auction in order to have additional time for an internal review. She said that will help her make a more informed decision, ensuring the project aligns with forest management goals. The Secret Timber Sale was authorized under the Upper Briggs Final Decision Notice, which was signed in August 2019. It is the fourth timber sale to be implemented under the Upper Briggs Environmental Analysis. The timber sale footprint in approximately 4,017 acres with 329 acres of treatment units that will generate 4.3 million board feet of timber. The sale is in the vicinity of Secret Creek and Secret Valley. The project's primary purpose is to create forest resiliency to fire and other natural disturbances as well as achieving long-term climate change objectives.
Posted on 8/31/24 5:01AM by Chuck Benson
 

6th Annual Rogue River Pikeminnow Roundup Launches Sunday with Contest
The 6th Annual Rogue River Pikeminnow Roundup begins Sunday and it runs through September 21st. Umpqua pikeminnow are not native to the Rogue Basin and are affecting the area's native salmon. In 2019, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife held the first Rogue Pikeminnow Roundup to increase awareness of introduced species and the harm that introduced fish, aquatic invertebrates and vegetation can cause of native species. Anglers compete for prizes including fishing rods, gear and apparel, gift cards and more. Only pikeminnow caught in the Rogue are eligible for the contest. The contest has four entry options for Youth (under 12), Teen (12-17) and Adult (18+). Prizes will be awarded for a Random Raffle, Largest Pikeminnow, Largest Five-Fish Bag, and Most Pounds of Pikeminnow. Participants can check their harvest in from noon to 4 p.m. on September 21st at Griffin Park in Josephine County or Wildlife Images Rehabilitation & Education Center near Merlin. Participants can also drop off their harvests starting Tuesday at the ODFW Office on East Gregory Road in Central Point.
Posted on 8/31/24 4:59AM by Chuck Benson
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Senators Announce Federal Investment to Help Medford Clean Energy Transition
US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced a federal investment of $143,430 for the City of Medford to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower overall energy use.The federal investment is from the US Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and conservation Block Grant Program. The City of Medford will use this funding to establish a plan baseline for energy use, identify how to reduce consumption and emissions, and develop an equity framework for prioritizing actions and investments while engaging and educating community members.Medford Mayor Randy Sparacino said the funding will help them continue to implement sustainable strategies to improve energy efficiency in the community. He thanked Senators Wyden and Merkley for their "unwavering" support.Wyden and Merkley have worked to allocate more resources to help transition to a clean energy economic. Earlier this month, the federal lawmakers from Oregon announced over $5 million for clean energy projects across the state.
Posted on 8/31/24 4:58AM by Chuck Benson
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GP 911 Communications Center Fielded 1,154 Emergency Calls Last Week
The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center continues to dispatch local agencies to a large number of emergency situations every week. According to the agency's weekly post on Facebook, the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a total of 1,154 emergency calls from August 22nd-August 28th. The Grants Pass Police Department received the vast majority of the calls with 1,124. GPPD was followed by American Medical Response with 300 and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue with 100. Rural Metro Fire Department was dispatched to 62 calls while both the Illinois Valley Fire Department and Oregon Department of Forestry were sent to 17 calls. The Williams Rural Fire Protection District received 10 calls while the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District got 3. Dispatchers also received 529 internal calls and they made 599 outbound calls.
Posted on 8/31/24 4:57AM by Chuck Benson
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GP Police Arrested Man for Beating Up Girlfriend in Downtown Neighborhood
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for allegedly beating up his girlfriend in a downtown neighborhood early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 700-block of SE Riverside Avenue on Thursday around 11 a.m.. Police said the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received multiple calls about a man and woman physically fighting at that address. Some callers advised the man was going after the woman with a hatchet, but that was not confirmed. Responding officers contacted the female victim who stated her boyfriend had struck her several times that morning and threatened her. She denied medical treatment for minor injuries, but photos were taken for evidence. A short time later, the 40-year-old male suspect was contacted. He stated the fight had been verbal and that he did not touch his girlfriend. Crimes scene photos of the woman's injuries refuted that claim and he was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and he was being held without bail.
Posted on 8/30/24 11:12AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Snared GP Felon on Warrant and for Violation after 7th Street Traffic Stop
The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass felon on a local warrant and for a moving violation during a traffic stop in the north part of the city late yesterday. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a blue Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by a 44-year-old male subject near the corner of NE 7th Street and Manzanita Avenue on Thursday at 4:26 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation and discovered the driver's license was felony suspended. They also learned that he was wanted on a local felony warrant for Parole Violation. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Felony Driving While Revoked. His pickup was parked and secured.
Posted on 8/30/24 11:10AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Man on Two Warrants after Home Improvement Store Call
Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant while investigating a report of suspicious activity near Diamond Home Improvement early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a reported homeless encampment along a fence south of the home improvement store on NE 7th Street on Thursday shortly after 7 a.m.. Police said the caller reported seeing the illegal campsite as well as damaged goods on a pallet. The caller said it appeared random items and soil had been thrown all over the area. Responding officers contacted 30-year-old Kraig Dean Toothman and another man they identified as "Jordan Haas" at the campsite. Toothman was arrested on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for Criminal Mischief and Petty Theft. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. Haas was discovered to be out of compliance with his sex offender registration, but he fled the area on foot and was not located. Trespass warnings were entered for both men at Diamond.
Posted on 8/30/24 11:08AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Police Cited Motorcyclists & Passenger in Downtown Traffic Stop
Grants Pass Police cited two male motorcyclists and a female passenger following a traffic stop in the downtown area last night. The Police Department reports officers pulled over two motorcycles for speeding at NW 6th and A streets on Thursday at 9:07 p.m.. Police said both motorcycle riders were found to have suspended operator licenses with no emergent reason to be riding. They said a female passenger on one of the bikes was found to be wanted on a Douglas County warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Contempt of Court. Both motorcyclists were cited for Driving While Suspended and No Motorcycle Endorsement. They were also warned for Speeding. The woman was cited to appear on her warrant in Canyonville Justice Court on September 16th.
Posted on 8/30/24 11:06AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Man Early Thursday for Domestic Violence Involving Firearm
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for committing domestic violence involving a firearm in the Redwood area of the city early yesterday. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers responded to a report of a disturbance that was occurring on George Tweed Boulevard on Thursday at about 2:30 a.m.. Officers arrived and discovered that 21-year-old Aidan Davis had fled the scene after allegedly firing a rifle into the ceiling, attempting to shoot a 22-year-old female and physically assaulting an elderly male. Both victims sustained minor injuries during the incident, but neither was hospitalized. Police officers located Davis's vehicle abandoned nearby and they began a search for the dangerous suspect. Detectives from GPPD and the Oregon State Police arrived to conduct an investigation. The manhunt resulted in the suspect being located inside a residence on SW Esther Lane where he had been hiding with the assistance of a 20-year-old female identified as "Alyssa Nichols." Nichols was arrested for Hindering Prosecution when she exited the residence. Police surrounded the residence and called for Davis to exit. They deployed a loud diversion device in front of the residence, which caused the suspect to quickly exit the house. He was placed into custody without further incident. Davis was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, two counts of Domestic Menacing plus single counts of Domestic 4th-Degree Assault, Domestic Strangulation and Attempted 1st-Degree Domestic Assault. Both he and Nichols were being held without bail.
Posted on 8/30/24 6:30AM by Sam Marsh
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Jo Co Community Corrections Client Jailed after Pulling Hair of Parole Officer
A Josephine County Community Corrections client was jailed after she tried to assault her parole officer this week. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested a 59-year-old female subject in the 200-block of Redwood Highway on Wednesday. Police said the subject's corrections officer was transporting the woman to a mental health evaluation when the woman grabbed her by the hair and tugged on it. The officer reported her client was not being cooperative and requested police respond to assist. Upon arrival, officers placed the subject into custody. At least one witness saw the incident and reported it to the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempted Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. She was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show the woman had also been arrested for Parole Violation on August 17th.
Posted on 8/30/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
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