Local News

GP Police Collared Man on State Warrant after Patrol Check near High School
Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant after an early morning patrol check near the high school. According to the Police Department, officers arrested a 29-year-old man in the 700-block of NE 8th Street on Wednesday shortly after 4 a.m.. Police said they were on patrol near GPHS when they observed the man nodding off inside his parked vehicle described as an unplated Dodge Avenger. They contacted him and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. The underlying conviction was not disclosed. Officers said there was tin foil in the man's lap. However, he was not charged with any crimes involving narcotics. The suspect was booked into the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 3/14/24 5:14AM by Sam Marsh
 

IVFD Congratulates Kamron Ismaeli for Promotion to Assistant Fire Chief
The Illinois Valley Fire District is congratulating Deputy Chief Kamron Ismaeli on his promotion to Assistant Fire Chief. IVFD Chief John Holmes said the Assistant Fire Chief will participate in planning, developing policy, and resolving challenges and issues. Holmes said Ismaeli will be responsible for fiscal management including developing and administering the budget alongside the Fire Chief. Working in this position requires a wide breadth of executive-level managerial knowledge, skills and abilities. Assistant Fire Chief Ismaeli will also be the person in charge of the district when the Fire Chief is not present or out of the area. IVFD is also congratulating its newest firefighters fresh out of the Academy. They are Firefighters Harlan Browman, Blake Brown, Christopher Conrad, Josh Kasprzak and Rain Mars.
Posted on 3/14/24 5:11AM by Sam Marsh
 

Board Okays $2.4 Million Funding Agreement with Oregon Criminal Justice Commission
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The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved a grant agreement with the state that will help fund the local criminal justice system over the next two years. The Board voted 3-0 to approve the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission's Justice Reinvestment Grant program in Josephine County. The two-year agreement with the state commission is for a total of more than $2.4 million, which will be disbursed in four equal installments of about $614,000. The program runs until January 5, 2025 and -- unless it's extended -- would expire in March 2026. Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger said three-quarters of services provided by Josephine County come from state and federal grants. He added that without those grants, it would be impossible for the county to provide many current services. The public comment period included praise for Commissioner Dan DeYoung and the Sheriff's Office, concern over potential removal of a dam on the Applegate River in Murphy and a request that Josephine County remove itself from the state's self-proclaimed immigration sanctuary. In Matters from Commissioners, Board Chair John West removed himself as staff liaison for the Public Health Department without stating the reason. Commissioner Baertschiger volunteered to replace him.
Posted on 3/14/24 5:00AM by Sam Marsh
 

Field is Set with Eight Candidates Running for Two Positions on Board of Commissioners
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The field is set with eight candidates running for two positions on the Josephine County Board of Commissioners in the May 21st election. The March 12th filing deadline has passed and two current Commission members -- Dan DeYoung and Herman Baertschiger -- have decided not to seek re-election. For Commissioner Position #2, the candidates are Chris Barnett, Mark Jones, Dan Mancuso and Colene Martin. For Commissioner Position #3, the candidates are Pat Fahey, Nathan Gonzales, Russell McAlmond and Ron Smith. Running for Josephine County Treasurer are incumbent Eve Arce and challenger Mark DeYoung. Also on the May 21st ballot are Measure 17-116 Replacement of the Josephine County Charter, Measure 17-117 Animal Shelter & Control Local Option Tax and a Three Rivers School District Bond Levy. KAJO Radio plans to broadcast Election Talk Shows featuring the Commissioner Candidates on April 24th and April 25th, with an April 30th show split in half for pros and cons of the Charter Replacement measure. April 30th is available for an additional talk show featuring other election topics before the ballots go in the mail on May 1st.
Posted on 3/14/24 4:57AM by Sam Marsh
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Senators Merkley & Wyden Announce Federal Funding for Medford Command Center
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US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced major economic development and community safety improvement investments for Oregon -- including over $16 million in funding for 15 critical community projects. The six-bill Fiscal Year 2024 Minibus Package cleared both chambers of Congress last week and were quickly signed into law by President Joe Biden. The CJS funding bill supports public safety system upgrades that will better protect Oregon communities from wildfire threats and other disasters. The bill includes $800,000 to help the City of Medford acquire a Mobile Incident Command Center that will provide a central hub for coordinating emergency response. It will significantly enhance regional resiliency for Medford and its partners throughout the Rogue Valley. The bill also supports programs and projects that boost job creation and innovation -- particularly in rural, coastal and underserved communities.
Posted on 3/14/24 4:55AM by Sam Marsh
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BCC Okays $2.4 Million Grant Agreement with OR Criminal Justice Commission
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners today unanimously approved a grant agreement with the state that will help fund the local criminal justice system over the next two years. The Board voted 3-0 to approve the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission's Justice Reinvestment Grant Program in Josephine County. The two-year agreement with the state commission is for a total of more than $2.4 million, which will be disbursed in four equal installments of about $614,000. The program runs until January 5, 2025 and -- unless it's extended -- would expire in March 2026. Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger said three-quarters of services provided by Josephine County come from state and federal grants. He added that without those grants, it would be impossible for the county to provide many current services. The public comment period included praise for Commissioner Dan DeYoung and the Sheriff's Office, concern over potential removal of a dam on the Applegate River in Murphy and a request that Josephine County remove itself from the state's self-proclaimed immigration sanctuary. Board Chair John West removed himself as staff liaison for the Public Health Department without stating the reason. Commissioner Baertschiger volunteered to replace him.
Posted on 3/13/24 10:25AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Captured Out-of-State Fugitive after Responding to Interstate 5 Complaint
The Oregon State Police apprehended a fugitive from another state late yesterday after responding to a complaint at the East Grants Pass Interchange of Interstate 5. OSP reports troopers were alerted to a male subject walking in and out of traffic on the southbound I-5 off-ramp near milepost 55 on Tuesday at 5:45 p.m.. Troopers said they contacted 27-year-old Kyle Adam Berger of Merlin a short time later along the Grants Pass Parkway near NE Terry Lane. They discovered that he was wanted on a felony fugitive warrant from another state. No other information was provided. Berger was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged without bail pending extradition proceedings.
Posted on 3/13/24 10:23AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Collared Man for State Warrant and Drug Possession at Local Market
Grants Pass Police jailed a man on a statewide felony warrant and for drug possession yesterday at a convenience store near the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers arrested 42-year-old Lee Nicholas Rich at A-1 Market & Deli on SW G Street on Tuesday at 3:50 p.m.. Police said they were on patrol in that area when they spotted Rich and knew that he was wanted on an Oregon State felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for Larceny. Rich was contacted and found to be in possession of methamphetamine, which was seized for destruction. He was placed into custody without incident. Lee Rich was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant as well as the narcotics violation.
Posted on 3/13/24 10:22AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Woman for Violating Court Order Multiple Times at SE Home
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman yesterday for violating a court order multiple times in the southeast part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance involving 57-year-old Jeani Renee Miller in the 1500-block of Ben Air Circle on Tuesday at 12:50 p.m.. Police said Miller violated a no-contact release agreement by having contact with the protected party twice at his residence yesterday as well as one other time in recent days. They said she was located hiding next to some bushes in the 2,000-block of Cloverlawn Drive and placed into custody. Further investigation determined that the protected party had his sister bring Miller to his home and she stayed the night. They got into an argument over her drinking and she left the house on foot. The man then reported a restraining order violation. According to the report, the restraining order had not yet been served on Miller -- but there was a no-contact order on file for her. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail.
Posted on 3/13/24 10:21AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Incarcerated Woman for Returning to City Park after 30-Day Exclusion
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for returning to a city park from which she had been excluded early yesterday. The Police Department responded to a trespassing complaint involving 46-year-old Rose Marie McLaughlin at Gilbert Creek Park on Tuesday around 9:20 a.m.. Police said McLaughlin returned to the park after she was trespassed on March 7th. They said she was reminded of the 30-day exclusion on Monday, but she returned there again yesterday. Rose McLaughlin was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass along with the resulting Parole Violation related to nine previous convictions for violating city ordinances in parks. Her property was logged into evidence for safe-keeping. Meanwhile, a man identified as "Franklin Lister" was trespassed from Gilbert Creek Park for one year after numerous repeated ordinance violations.
Posted on 3/13/24 10:19AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Man for Rummaging Through Fruitdale Drive Garbage Cans
Grants Pass Police arrested man for rummaging through garbage cans in a southeast-city neighborhood earlier this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance in the 1400-block of Fruitdale Drive on Monday night. Police said 49-year-old Daniel Reese Wise, Jr., was reported to be making a big mess while going through a garbage can in front of a residence. The caller said her husband confronted the man who yelled at her husband and threatened to fight him. The husband returned to the home and no one was hurt. Responding officers found Wise laying in a ditch in the 1500-block of Fruitdale Drive. They said he denied allegations that he was going through trash cans, but he had several white bags with him at the time. He was placed into custody. Daniel Wise was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Offensive Littering. He was also warned for Disorderly Conduct and was being held without bail.
Posted on 3/13/24 10:17AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Nabbed Young Woman for Probation Violation & Downtown Camping
Grants Pass Police arrested a young woman for violating terms of her probation by sleeping in the doorway of a downtown business early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a female transient sleeping in a doorway in the 300-block of SE H Street at about 9 a.m. Tuesday. Police said 18-year-old Makailah Gayle Dunham was called in as a trespasser by the business owner. They said she had a small brown dog with her and kept running away from officers who were trying to contact her. She was eventually contacted and placed into custody at the corner of SW 6th and G streets. Dunham was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Probation Violation related to arrests for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Attempt to Commit a Felony Crime. She was being held without bail. At about the same time, a man identified as "Brian Chapman" was caught sleeping in the doorway of Catalyst Pizza. He was warned for Offensive Littering and for violating a city ordinance against Illegal Camping in the downtown area.
Posted on 3/13/24 10:15AM by Sam Marsh
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