KAJO 99.7FM - Local News

SOU & RCC Receive ODVA Grants to Expand Campus Veteran Resource Centers

The Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA) is pleased to announce it has awarded grants totaling $1 million to expand Campus Veteran Resource Centers and bolster other services aimed at helping student veterans at public universities and community colleges across the state. These campus resource centers are important investments in helping veterans transition from military service to college life, complete their education goals, and successfully transition to a career and their community. According to ODVA, the purpose of the Campus Veteran Resource Center Grant Program is to augment these existing campus resources by funding innovative and impactful projects or programs designed to improve the lives of student veterans and help them succeed. All 14 of the institutions who applied received a portion of the available grant funds, ranging in awards from $49,720 to $100,000. The local awardees were Southern Oregon University and Rogue Community College.

Posted on 11/7/23 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Motorist for DUII and Other Crimes after Weekend Complaint

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and several other crimes after a weekend traffic complaint in the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a Hyundai sedan driven by 47-year-old Megan Allison Bless on SE H Street after she was observed speeding away from the Sound Lounge on Saturday at about 7:20 p.m.. Officers said Bless was called in as a complaint regarding an intoxicated person leaving the bar after it refused to serve her. They stopped her after observing her accelerate rapidly and fail to drive within a single travel lane. She struck a parked car while pulling over, had to be removed from the vehicle and refused to provide identification. She also tried to pull away from officers while being handcuffed. Bless displayed several indicators of impairment, so a search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw revealing her high level of inebriation. Megan Bless was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, Resisting Arrest and Failure to Present ID. She was also cited for Failure to Install an Ignition Interlock Device on her vehicle, which was impounded.

Posted on 11/6/23 11:16AM by Sam Marsh

Two Corrections Clients Jailed for Parole Violation after GP Police Patrol Checks

Two Josephine County Community Corrections clients were jailed for violating their post-prison supervision agreements over the weekend. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 52-year-old Tyler Allan Pinard during a patrol check in the 200-block of SE 8th Street on Saturday at 3:29 p.m.. Police said they spotted Pinard and knew that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a recent conviction for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer. On Saturday at 8:52 p.m., officers arrested 49-year-old Johnny Nickey Marino at the Dollar Tree on NW 6th Street. Police said they contacted Marino in the store parking lot and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State felony warrant for Parole Violation related to a weapons conviction. He was also lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 11/6/23 11:14AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared 2 Local Fugitives during Weekend Patrol Check at City Park

Grants Pass Police apprehended two local fugitives during a weekend patrol check at a city park along the Rogue River. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 33-year-old Cody Wayne Nolen and 34-year-old Shayna Marie Mueller at Tussing Park on Saturday around 8:30 a.m.. Police said they were performing a routine patrol of the city park when they spotted Nolen and Mueller. A records check revealed that Nolen was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Theft and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass while Mueller was wanted on a local felony warrant for failing to appear for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Cody Nolen and Shayne Mueller were lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. They were being held on $80,000 and $30,000 bail, respectively.

Posted on 11/6/23 11:12AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested GP Man on Outstanding Warrant after Redwood Area Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man on an outstanding warrant during a weekend traffic stop in the Redwood area. According to OSP, state troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Silverado driven by 32-year-old Mason Leland Haugh on Redwood Avenue near Annabelle Lane at about 10:34 p.m. Saturday. Troopers said they stopped Haugh for a traffic violation and discovered that he was wanted on a local warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Mason Haugh was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was being held in lieu of posting $20,000 bail.

Posted on 11/6/23 11:11AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Cited Motorist for Causing Weekend Crash at 6th & Savage Streets

Grants Pass Police cited a motorist for causing a weekend crash that sent the other driver to the hospital. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of NE 6th and Savage streets on Saturday around 4:30 p.m.. Police said a male motorist they identified only as "Striplin" was distracted while driving a Nissan Maxima and ran a red light while traveling south on 6th Street, striking a Honda Civic driven by a female motorist identified only as "Koskellas" who was traveling east on Savage. Koskellas' vehicle sustained a broken rear axle from the crash and she requested transport to Three Rivers Medical Center because of "severe pain." Following an investigation, Striplin -- who was not hurt -- was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device. It was unclear in the report if his car was towed.

Posted on 11/6/23 11:09AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Investigating Hit & Run Crash on Highway 238 in North Applegate Valley

The Oregon State Police was investigating a weekend collision between a car and a bicycle on Williams Highway in the northern Applegate Valley. OSP reports troopers responded to a reported hit-and-run crash near milepost 10 of Highway 238 on Saturday shortly before the noon hour. Troopers said a 63-year-old Grants Pass woman was riding a bicycle west on the highway when she was struck from behind by a vehicle traveling in the same direction. The vehicle did not stop and continued westbound on the highway. According to OSP, the bike rider sustained minor injuries and did not need medical treatment. She described the suspect vehicle as an older white sedan with damage to the passenger-side window and mirror. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to dial *OSP.

Posted on 11/6/23 11:07AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Statewide Fugitive after Tense Standoff on Brookhurst Way

Grants Pass Police apprehended a felon wanted on a statewide felony warrant following a tense weekend standoff in the southeast part of the city. The Police Department reports officers eventually arrested 41-year-old Scott Michael Jones in the 1700-block of Brookhurst Way on Friday at 9:50 p.m.. The arrest was made at gunpoint and after the deployment of a pepper ball. Police said Jones was wanted on an Oregon State felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for 2nd-Degree Robbery. They said an anonymous tip led them to the suspect who was reportedly sitting in a minivan in front of a home at that address. After Jones was confirmed to be in the van, announcements were made. However, the suspect refused to comply with commands, so a pepper ball was launched into the van and he quickly exited the driver-side of the vehicle and was placed into custody without further incident. A K-9 officer was deployed to gain compliance. After denying medical attention, Scott Jones was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the statewide warrant. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 11/6/23 6:32AM by Sam Marsh

Illinois Valley Man Arrested for Roughing Up Wife at Selma Area Residence

An Illinois Valley man was jailed over the weekend after he allegedly roughed up his wife at a residence near Selma. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports 34-year-old Douglas William Earl Green was arrested on Friday shortly after 10 p.m. for the incident that occurred at a home in the 17,400-block of Redwood Highway. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to request a welfare check on her friend. The caller said Green's wife told her that he had "choked her out" the night before and she was worried they might get into another fight. According to the report, Green told his wife he was going hunting and left the home in a Dodge pickup with his rifle. He was contacted a short time later on Illinois River Road and told deputies he would not answer if he was physical with his wife. After interviewing his wife, he was placed into custody without incident. The woman had bruises from the domestic disturbance, but she refused medical assistance. Douglas Green was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Strangulation. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 11/6/23 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Shoving Another to Ground in Downtown Area

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for shoving another woman to the ground in the downtown area late last week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the reported disturbance at the corner of SE 6th and K streets on Friday around 11 a.m.. Police said 59-year-old Marjorie Rose Anderson subjected another woman to offensive physical contact by pushing her down in the downtown intersection, causing pain to the victim and prompting multiple calls to 9-1-1. Traffic was disrupted because of the incident which was witnessed by several people. Upon contact with Anderson, she reportedly told officers that she did not know the victim but pushed her because she figured the woman was "in on it." Marjorie Anderson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Harassment and Disorderly Conduct. Jail records show Anderson was arrested on October 28th for Criminal Mischief, October 25th for Offensive Littering and September 28th for Disorderly Conduct.

Posted on 11/6/23 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared 2 Campers for Returning to City Park after Being Evicted

Grants Pass Police arrested two campers who had returned to a city park after they had been trespassed from the facility. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 57-year-old William Daniel Stroh and 53-year-old Tammy Ann Whetzel at Baker Park late Friday. Police said Stroh and Whetzel had been trespassed from the park for 30 days on October 28th, but they elected to return to the park before the prescribed time period. Both were lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Criminal Trespass. Both Stroh and Whetzel admitted to knowing they had been trespassed. They had been given several warnings to vacate the park prior to being arrested. The pair had other campers watch over their belongings and two dogs while they were in jail.

Posted on 11/6/23 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police & Firefighters Ramped Up Efforts to Protect Citizens & Structures

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters ramped up their efforts in order to protect citizens and structures in the community last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 688 calls for service along with 350 officer-initiated calls that resulted in 51 arrests, 30 citations, 38 warnings and nine highly intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. The Community Response Team (CRT) contacted a total of 191 potential trouble-makers while arresting nine people, citing 49 more and warning 93 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 37 individuals, posted 91 transient camps and removed trash from 12 campsites in city parks. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 103 calls last week including 49 for emergency medical service, two reports of fire or smoke, 17 lift assists, eight rescue situations, six assists to other agencies and seven false alarms. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 1,176 emergency calls last week in addition to 959 calls for non-emergency service.

Posted on 11/6/23 6:17AM by Sam Marsh