Local News

GP Motorist Eluded State Troopers on Monday, But was Apprehended Tuesday
A Grants Pass motorist was able to elude the Oregon State Police one time this week, but not the second time. According to OSP, troopers spotted a suspect who was recorded on radar Monday driving at approximately 130 miles per hour near milepost 4 of Redwood Highway. Troopers said they pursued the speeding driver, but he was not located. However, a video found on social media was taken of him being disorderly on US Highway 199 just minutes after the observed driving behavior. OSP reports 64-year-old Thomas Michael Campbell was called in as a complaint on Tuesday while driving recklessly at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. He was reported to be acting disorderly near the corner of 5th and I streets, troopers responded and placed him into custody. Thomas Campbell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Reckless Driving and one count of Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail. Enterprise Rent-a-Car responded to take custody of the suspect vehicle.
Posted on 1/25/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
 

OSP Nabbed Jacksonville Man for DUII after Traffic Stop in SW Grants Pass
The Oregon State Police arrested a Jacksonville man for impaired driving early yesterday following a traffic stop in southwest Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Silverado driven by 53-year-old Charles David Moorhead near the corner of Allen Creek and West Harbeck roads on Wednesday shortly after midnight. Troopers said they stopped Moorhead for an observed traffic violation and he displayed signs of impairment. They said the suspect refused to participate in field sobriety tests, so he was placed into custody. Charles Moorhead was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded.
Posted on 1/25/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
 

RR City Council Set to Tackle Full Agenda for Monthly Meeting This Evening
The Rogue River City Council will tackle a hefty agenda when it gathers for its regular monthly meeting tonight. Following Committee Reports and Public Input, the City Council will start with New Business which includes recognition of Police Corporal Ty Darr for five years of service, the award of a contract for City Attorney Services and a letter of support for Legislative Capital Project Funds from the local 9-1-1 agency. Also under New Business is consideration of providing a local government recommendation to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission for a change in ownership of the Chevron convenience store at 95 Pine Street. The Council is expected to accept an audit report from KDP Certified Public Accountants. Council Action items include a resolution establishing a fee schedule for Rogue River Sewer Service and a resolution establishing a fee schedule for Rogue River Water Service. If approved, the former resolutions will be rescinded. Tonight's meeting begins at 6 at Rogue River City Hall, 133 Broadway Street.
Posted on 1/25/24 6:09AM by Sam Marsh
 

Commission Approves Supplemental Budget and New Law Enforcement District Committees
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The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved a supplemental budget for the current fiscal year and established committees for the new law enforcement district during its weekly business session on Wednesday. The Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution adopting a supplemental budget that makes appropriations and adjustments to the current spending plan. No major changes were made to the budget, but adjustments were made to balance it. County Finance Director Sandy Novak testified that necessary adjustments were identified during a January 17th budget meeting. She said the changes were made primarily in the Public Works Department. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners tabled consideration of a collective bargaining agreement until next week. Board Chair John West said he had new information that he and his colleagues would need to discuss during an executive session. Consideration of publishing the Annual Financial Report was moved to the Administration meeting being held today. The Board then reconvened as the governing body of the Josephine County Law Enforcement Service District to establish a citizen advisory committee and a budget committee. The citizen advisory committee will be made up of five at-large electors who live in the district while the budget committee will be composed of the Board of Commissioners plus three at-large electors who reside in the district.
Posted on 1/25/24 6:01AM by Sam Marsh
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New GPFlex Campus near Grants Pass High School Expected to Open By End of Month
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The new campus for GPFlex is taking shape near Grants Pass High School. Modular buildings for the GPFlex campus on NE Dean Drive were brought in and set in place with a crane on December 20th. It was an exciting milestone for the Grants Pass School District's online and flexible learning school. GPFlex is an acronym for "Grants Pass Flexible Learning Experience." It offers a unique and exciting educational opportunity for 6th through 12th grade students. It serves as an alternative to the traditional brick-and-mortar school, giving students the flexibility to work entirely online or follow a hybrid schedule with a mix of in-person and online courses. The new GPFlex campus will provide additional space for daily, one-on-one support opportunities and more on-site opportunities for students to collaborate and connect with their peers. The new location will increase access to on-site classes for 9th through 12th grade students on a hybrid learning path. The new campus will have modular buildings similar to those added at South Middle School and Gladiola High School in recent years. District 7 officials said they anticipate the new campus will be up and running by the end of this month.
Posted on 1/25/24 5:55AM by Sam Marsh
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KAJO Radio to Host Special Friday Morning Talk Show with US Congressman Cliff Bentz
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KAJO Radio will host a special talk show featuring US Representative Cliff Bentz on Friday morning. Congressman Bentz will be in Southern Oregon while traveling through his district and he has agreed to be our guest on the talk show, which will start at 11:15 a.m.. The Ontario Republican is the ranking member on the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife and he sits on the House Judiciary Committee. He previously served in the Oregon Senate and Oregon House while representing constituents from Eastern Oregon in Salem. Bentz was elected to the US House of Representatives in November 2020. He also serves on the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law; Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet; and Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States. Please join us on KAJO Radio for a special talk show featuring Congressman Cliff Bentz on Friday at 11:15 a.m..
Posted on 1/25/24 5:53AM by Sam Marsh
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BCC Approves Supplemental Budget and Law Enforcement District Committees
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved a supplemental budget for the current fiscal year and established committees for the new law enforcement district during its weekly business session this morning. The Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution adopting a supplemental budget that makes appropriations and adjustments to the current spending plan. No major changes were made to the budget, but adjustments were made to balance it. County Finance Director Sandy Novak testified that necessary adjustments were identified during a January 17th budget meeting. She said the changes were made primarily in the Public Works Department. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners tabled consideration of a collective bargaining agreement until next week. Board Chair John West said he had new information that he and his colleagues would need to discuss during an executive session. Consideration of publishing the Annual Financial Report was moved to the Administration meeting on Thursday. The Board then reconvened as the governing body of the Josephine County Law Enforcement Service District to establish a citizen advisory committee and a budget committee. The citizen advisory committee will be made up of five at-large electors who live in the district while the budget committee will be composed of the Board of Commissioners plus three at-large electors who reside in the district.
Posted on 1/24/24 11:44AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Jailed Man for Choking Ex-Girlfriend and Trying to Burn Down House
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for roughing up his ex-girlfriend while allegedly trying to burn down her house in the North Valley area early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 39-year-old Zachary Paul McCleary for the incident in the 7200-block of Monument Drive on Tuesday around 1 a.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report McCleary -- her ex-boyfriend and former roommate -- had entered her house, choked her, put a propane heater on a stove and turned it on. The victim said she still has feelings for the suspect, but he hasn't lived with her for nine years. According to the report, the victim was not seriously injured and she was hiding in a closet. The propane heater was removed from the stove before it exploded. Responding deputies were backed up by the Oregon State Police. They were able to detain McCleary before placing him into custody. Zachary McCleary was transported to Grants Pass and booked into the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Strangulation. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 1/24/24 11:42AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Man Snared on Multiple Warrants after OSP Traffic Stop in Downtown Area
A Grants Pass man was arrested on multiple warrants during a traffic stop in the downtown area last night. The Oregon State Police reports troopers pulled over a Buick Regal driven by 59-year-old Clint Edward Robertson near the corner of 6th and J streets on Tuesday at 9:50 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Robertson for a traffic violation and quickly discovered that he was wanted on several arrest warrants for Contempt of Court. He was also violating a Jackson County no-contact release agreement due to the protected party -- a 60-year-old Grants Pass woman -- being the passenger in his vehicle. Clint Robertson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants and for Violation of a No-Contact Order. He was being held without bail. The Buick was released to his passenger.
Posted on 1/24/24 11:40AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Placed GP Man on Mental Hold and Then Arrested Him at Local Hospital
The Oregon State Police placed a Grants Pass man on a mental hold and then arrested him for becoming violent with hospital staff early yesterday. According to OSP, the incident started at 6:58 a.m. when troopers responded to a call for service regarding a possible suicidal male subject on Interstate 5 near the Merlin Interchange. Troopers said they contacted 58-year-old Robert Vincent Jones, he made suicidal statements, was placed on a Peace Officer's Mental Hold and transported to Three Rivers Medical Center. They said he became irate and started threatening hospital staff. He was then cleared of the mental hold by medical personnel and arrested. Robert Jones was subsequently transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged for Disorderly Conduct.
Posted on 1/24/24 11:39AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Motorist Eluded State Troopers on Monday, But was Arrested on Tuesday
A Grants Pass motorist was able to elude the Oregon State Police one time this week, but not the second time. According to OSP, troopers spotted a suspect who was recorded Monday on radar driving at approximately 130 miles per hour near milepost 4 of Redwood Highway. Troopers said they pursued the speeding driver, but he was not located. However, a video found on social media was taken of him being disorderly on US Highway 199 just minutes after the observed driving behavior. OSP reports 64-year-old Thomas Michael Campbell was called in as a complaint on Tuesday morning while driving recklessly at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. He was reported to be acting disorderly near the corner of 5th and I streets, troopers responded and placed him into custody. Thomas Campbell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Reckless Driving and one count of Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail. Enterprise Rent-a-Car responded to take custody of the suspect vehicle.
Posted on 1/24/24 11:37AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Nabbed Motorist for Impaired Driving after Citizen Complaint on Freeway
The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving during a traffic stop on Interstate 5 in east Grants Pass yesterday. OSP reports troopers responded to a citizen complaint regarding driving behavior of a northbound Mazda MZ6 near milepost 55 of I-5 on Tuesday at 1:28 p.m.. Troopers located the suspect vehicle and contacted the driver who was identified as 51-year-old David Allen Breshears. They said he pulled into the parking lot of WinCo Foods and displayed indicators of impairment. An investigation was performed and he was placed into custody. Breshears was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. He was lodged for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. His vehicle was left secured in the parking lot.
Posted on 1/24/24 11:36AM by Sam Marsh
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