Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving and more after he crashed into a utility pole in Cave Junction early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies were requested to perform a welfare check on a man who was slumped over the steering wheel of a Honda sedan in the 200-block of North Redwood Highway on Wednesday at 7:20 a.m.. Before deputies contacted 40-year-old Patrick Arthur Murphy, II, they noticed damage to his vehicle that was consistent with a downed utility pole along the highway. They said Murphy displayed signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests, so he was placed into custody. Murphy was transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. His damaged car was impounded. The Sheriff's Office advised the Oregon Department of Transportation about the damaged pole in the median of the highway between River and Palmer streets.

 

Two Grants Pass motorists lost possession of their vehicles after being cited for violations following Wednesday traffic stops. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred at 2:32 p.m. yesterday when they pulled over a gray sedan driven by a man identified as "Stahly" near the corner of NE D Street and Silverwood Place. Police said they stopped Stahly for running a red light and speeding. He was cited for Driving While Suspended and warned for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device, Speeding and No Insurance. His vehicle was impounded. The second incident happened at 10:56 p.m. yesterday when officers pulled over a red Subaru driven by a man identified as "Pond" near the corner of NE F Street and Fire Mountain Way. Police said they cited Pond for Careless Driving, Driving While Suspended and No Insurance. His unregistered and uninsured Subaru was impounded.

 

A disturbance between two people at a downtown resting site early yesterday led to a city ordinance citation for one of them. Grants Pass Police were alerted to a verbal argument between Samantha Brown and Daniel Dawson at the NW 5th Street resting site on Wednesday at 9:25 a.m.. Officers broke up the argument and noticed that Brown's campsite was covered in trash. They cited Brown for Scattering Rubbish. Brown was warned that a second such citation would result in a 30-day exclusion.

 

A fast-moving grass fire near Ruch has turned into the largest wildfire incident in southwest Oregon so far this year. The Oregon Department of Forestry reported last night that the Upper Applegate Fire was being held at an estimated 350 acres following an aggressive initial attack by multiple agencies. The fire is located on private and BLM land along the 2,000-block of Upper Applegate Road. It was first reported on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. as a grass fire. The Applegate Valley Fire District and ODF crews responded first and discovered a 10-to-15-acre vegetation fire that was quickly growing uphill in the hot, windy conditions. It had grown to 120 acres by 2:30 p.m. and 200 acres by 3:30 p.m. Numerous resources were ordered for the firefight including additional engines, crews and multiple helicopters, large air tankers, a very large air tanker and an air attack plane. Structural task forces from fire agencies across Jackson and Josephine counties were ordered during the second and third alarm calls to protect homes in the area. Additional resources from the BLM and US Forest Service also arrived. Last night, an additional eight 20-person hand crews, eight engines, six bulldozers and six water tenders arrived to work the overnight shift. More resources have been ordered for today's dayshift. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management have been working with firefighters to identify homes that are threatened. They have issued evacuation notices and warnings that can be found at "RVEM.org." An evacuation shelter is currently open at Jacksonville Elementary School. Small pets can be taken there while large livestock can be taken to the Jackson County Expo Park. Upper Applegate Road remains closed to the public, but local residents will be let in. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man this week for pointing a gun at another man in a clothing store. The Police Department reports officers arrested 60-year-old Paul Leon Rumer on Tuesday for the alleged incident at Ross Dress 4 Less in the Grants Pass Shopping Center. Police said Rumer brandished a gun and pointed it at another man inside Ross after a disagreement about moving out of the way in a store aisle. They said the other man left the area and Rumer followed him, pulled out the loaded pistol and pointed it at him while acting in a violent and tumultuous manner. According to the report, the victim called 9-1-1 and told dispatchers that Rumer's actions placed him in fear of serious injury or death. Responding officers located Rumer, placed him into custody and seized the firearm as evidence. Rumer was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for attempting to break in to a Cave Junction residence and then fighting with deputies when they tried to arrest her. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 40-year-old Leah Marie Wise on Tuesday for the alleged incident at a home in the 28,000-block of Redwood Highway. Deputies said a resident called 9-1-1 to report that Wise was trying to force entry into their house and was banging on their front door. When the resident opened the door, the woman tried to push her way inside. The suspect then fled the scene, but told the resident she would be back. Responding deputies found Wise about a block away from the incident location and tried to place her into custody. However, Wise actively fought with deputies and had to be placed in a body wrap after she was subdued. Wise was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Attempted Assault on a Peace Officer, Resisting Arrest and Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man on a statewide felony warrant near a downtown resting site this week. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 43-year-old Daniel Jack Freitas near the 6th and A Street homeless encampment on Tuesday evening. Police said they spotted Freitas riding a bicycle on 6th Street and they knew that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a past burglary conviction. The suspect initially tried to elude them by cutting through the parking lot of the Hong Kong Restaurant, but he quickly stopped and was detained. Freitas was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held on a no-bail detainer. His bicycle was logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

An unoccupied recreational vehicle was destroyed by fire in the Merlin area early yesterday. On Wednesday at 6 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to the RV fire on Pickett Creek Road.Initial reports were of a dark column of smoke followed by multiple residents in the area seeing what appeared to be a large structure on fire. Firefighters quickly converged on the scene and contained the blaze. No injuries were reported, but the RV was a total loss. Due to the remote location, Rural Metro officials said a water source was established by drafting out of the Rogue River at Robertson Bridge Boat Landing, which temporarily shut the facility down. Following an investigation, officials said the cause of the fire was undetermined.

 

Just months after taking on the role of executive director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Gabriella Calicchio is leaving the post. Ashland News reported that an email sent out to festival donors last week said Calicchio is currently on leave and will officially conclude her term on July 1st. Calicchio was named executive director in September of 2024, taking the place of Tyler Hokama. Hokama had been interim executive director since June 2023 during a time marked by multiple staff departures and layoffs, including executive director David Schmitz and artistic director Nataki Garrett. Garrett was temporarily replaced by Evren Odcikin and then Tim Bond, who remains in the role. Also that year, the company fundraised more than $2.7 million, allowing the season to continue as planned, as it worked to find equilibrium after several turbulent years that included fires, a pandemic and the staff turnover. Oregon Shakespeare Festival is currently in the middle of its 90th season. In May, the festival announced the 10 plays that will comprise its 91st season. The festival said it was in the process of finalizing the details of the next interim executive director and would likely have more details later this week.