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Board Unanimously Approves Several Adjustments to Josephine County Code

The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved several adjustments to the Josephine County Code following five brief public hearings this morning. The Board approved the first readings of four ordinances repealing chapters related to the Urban Area Planning Commission, the Jackson-Josephine Regional Board, Jefferson Behavioral Health and the Job Council. There was no public comment. Assistant County Legal Counsel Leah Harper testified that the City of Grants Pass now makes all appointments to the UAPC, the two-county Regional Board has not existed since 2009, Jefferson Behavioral Health was disbanded in 2012 and the Job Council was dissolved in 2014. The Board also approved the first reading of an ordinance that amends the Code related to the local Solid Waste Agency. Harper testified the agency was created in 2001 by Josephine County and the City of Grants Pass. She said the City of Cave Junction has joined what is now called the Josephine County Solid Waste Agency. The second readings and approvals of all five ordinances are scheduled for April 17th. The Commissioners heard citizen comments that included law enforcement and school board complaints, a complaint that the Grants Pass City Council had canceled tonight's regular meeting, multiple complaints about excessive noise outside the auditorium and an announcement regarding the April 27th Patriots Conference at the Josephine County Fairgrounds.

Posted on 4/3/24 11:32AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Breaking into Ex-Wife's Apartment & Stealing Blower

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for breaking into his ex-wife's apartment while she was away yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 57-year-old man for the incident in the 400-block of NE Anderson Street on Tuesday at 2:39 p.m.. Police said a neighbor who was watching the apartment while the occupant was out of the country called 9-1-1 to report a male subject broke into the residence and left out the back door with a flower pot. The caller believed it was his neighbor's ex-husband who previously had been trespassed from the apartment. Officers responded, searched the area and found the suspect at Sunshine Laundry on NE D Street. He claimed to still reside at the apartment, but the neighbor and the complex manager said his ex-wife lived alone. An investigation showed entry was forced through a broken window because the doors were locked. Further investigation revealed a leaf blower inside the apartment, which the man admitted to stealing from a friend. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of Felony 1st-Degree Burglary, 2nd-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/3/24 11:30AM by Sam Marsh

Altercation between Roommates near Murphy Led to Fugitive Apprehension

A physical altercation between roommates at a Murphy area home late yesterday led to the apprehension of a local fugitive. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident in the 6900-block of New Hope Road on Tuesday shortly after 4 p.m.. Deputies said a man called 9-1-1 to report he was in an altercation with his male roommate because he was trying to kick him out and he was refusing to leave. He admitted to hitting and slapping his roommate, but said no one was injured. According to the report, the caller told dispatchers that he allowed the 31-year-old man to move in with him two weeks ago, but he had since changed his mind. He was told it was a civil issue and was advised on how to obtain an eviction notice. Responding deputies located the fleeing roommate and placed him into custody at Taser point. They discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a weapons offense. He was lodged in jail in lieu of posting $30,000 bail.

Posted on 4/3/24 11:28AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Snared Wolf Creek Man on Local Felony Warrant after Speaker Road Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Wolf Creek man on a local felony warrant yesterday following a traffic stop in northern Josephine County. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Blazer driven by a 62-year-old man on Speaker Road on Tuesday at 1:37 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the motorist for traffic violations and discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Felon in Possession of a Weapon and Probation Violation related to an arrest for Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was being held on scheduled bail of $35,000. According to OSP, his vehicle was released to a passenger at the scene of the traffic stop.

Posted on 4/3/24 11:26AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested Kerby Man for Falsely Reporting Highway 199 Crash in O'Brien

The Oregon State Police arrested a Kerby man last night for fabricating a story about a motor vehicle accident on Redwood Highway in O'Brien. OSP reports troopers responded to the intersection of US Highway 199 and O'Brien Road on Tuesday at 8:26 p.m. due to a report of a hit-and-run crash in which an unknown motorist struck a bicyclist before fleeing the scene. During the course of the investigation, no evidence of a crash or injury was found or observed. Troopers gained additional information from the medic unit that also responded that the 41-year-old male subject who reported the crash recently made several false reports of the same nature. The subject was taken into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Initiating a False Report. He was being held without bail. His bicycle was left at the O'Brien General Store with staff permission.

Posted on 4/3/24 11:24AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Motorist for Extreme DUII after Highway 199 Traffic Stop in CJ

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for extremely impaired driving last night during a Redwood Highway traffic stop in Cave Junction. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Dodge Caravan driven by a 35-year-old man on US Highway 199 near East Watkins Street on Tuesday at 6:38 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for traffic violations and the driver showed strong signs of impairment by alcohol. They said the man performed poorly in field sobriety tests and he was taken to the Cave Junction Substation where he provided a breath sample that was exactly three times the legal driving limit. The suspect was transported to and lodged at the Grants Pass Sobering Center on charges of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. The vehicle was left in the possession of the driver's friend.

Posted on 4/3/24 11:23AM by Sam Marsh

IV Firefighters Extinguished 4th Illegal Outdoor Debris Burn in Past 4 Days

For the fourth time in four days, the Illinois Valley Fire District extinguished an illegal outdoor burn. On Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., IVFD was dispatched to an open burn on Hathaway Drive in Kerby. Officials said the burn was small, but it contained household trash and roofing materials. The fire was put out and a citation was issued. On Tuesday at 8:37 p.m., IVFD responded to a grass fire on Takilma Road. Crews put out the unlawful blaze, which was described as a controlled burn. The occupant was educated on appropriate burn hours. Last Saturday night, IVFD crews were dispatched to an illegal open burn on White Schoolhouse Road. The blaze was doused and the property owner was cited. Last Sunday night, crews responded to an illegal open burn off Redwood Highway in Kerby. The fire was put out and the occupant was issued a written warning. IVFD officials said all outdoor debris burning requires a permit, there is no burning allowed at night and/or burning of illegal materials. They encourage residents to get their free burn permits online or in person and to follow the directions.

Posted on 4/3/24 11:22AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Jackson County Man for Wielding Machete at City Park

Grants Pass Police jailed a Jackson County man for engaging in violent behavior while wielding a machete in a city park this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 36-year-old White City man for the incident at Tussing Park on Monday night. Police said they were alerted to a male subject waving a machete in the park and causing public alarm. The suspect struck one man in the arm, causing a 3-4 inch laceration. The victim was uncooperative and refused medical attention. The suspect initially complied with emergency lights of the patrol vehicle for a moment before he chose to flee the scene. He did not comply with lawful orders to stop and led officers down West Park Street to the parking lot at Duo Gym where he refused to exit the Chevrolet Tahoe he was driving. It took the deployment of multiple bean bag rounds and a pepper ball to force him to surrender to police. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was called in to wash the non-lethal pepper off the suspect who was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation. He was then lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Attempt to Elude Police and Disorderly Conduct.

Posted on 4/3/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh

Recent MADGE Investigations Result in Arrests and Seizures of Drugs & Cash

The Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement (MADGE) team has been busy removing dangerous drugs and firearms from the local area over the past several months. In October 2023, MADGE investigators made contact with a suspect in the north Medford Walmart parking lot as a result of a months-long investigation. A search of the suspect's vehicle resulted in the seizure of nine pounds of methamphetamine and cash. The arrestees were identified as 52-year-old Angela Rehberger and 51-year-old Stacy Carlisle, both of Grants Pass. In January 2024, MADGE detectives made contact with two subjects in the south Medford Walmart parking lot as a result of a month-long investigation. The two suspects were found to be in possession of 10 pounds of methamphetamine, six ounces of fentanyl and cash. In February of this year, MADGE served a search warrant at the Motel 6 in north Medford as a result of a months-long investigation involving Honduran nationals delivering drugs to the Rogue Valley from the California Bay Area. During execution of the search warrant, 10 pounds of meth and a loaded handgun were seized.

Posted on 4/3/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Sex Offender after Trespassing Call at Medart Lane Home

Grants Pass Police arrested an out-of-compliance sex offender this week after responding to a trespassing complaint at a home in the Redwood area. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to an incident in the 1700-block of Medart Lane around midday Monday. Police said the female occupant of the residence saw her 59-year-old father on the property with a ring camera and the man had been trespassed from his daughter's home in December. The woman's 14-year-old son was home alone and unaware his grandfather was outside. Officers arrived on scene and contacted the suspect who admitted to recalling the trespass warning, but said he needed to get some water. He was found to be out of compliance with his sex offender registration by three days. The suspect was placed into custody lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and Failure to Report as a Sex Offender. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/3/24 6:38AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Cited Truck Driver for Striking North GP Fire Hydrant Before Driving Away

The Oregon State Police cited a truck driver for crashing into a fire hydrant and leaving the scene in north Grants Pass this week. According to OSP, troopers responded to an attempt to locate from the Grants Pass Police Department on Monday afternoon. Troopers said a Freightliner semi-truck driven by a 32-year-old California man struck a fire hydrant at the corner of 6th Street and Hillcrest Drive. They said the truck driver did not stop and he was eventually located on southbound Interstate 5 near the City of Rogue River. The truck driver was cited for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and then released. The incident occurred near Les Schwab Tire Center. The victim was identified as the City of Grants Pass. The semi was registered to Opportunity Truck Lines, Inc., of Citrus Heights, California.

Posted on 4/3/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh

Board to Hold Public Hearings on Five Adjustments to Josephine County Code

The Board of Commissioners will consider making several adjustments to the Josephine County Code during its weekly business session this morning. The Board will hold five public hearings -- four repealing chapters of the code pertaining to the Urban Area Planning Commission, Jackson-Josephine Region Board, Jefferson Behavioral Health and the Job Council, and one amending the Code related to the Solid Waste Agency. The first four ordinances will remove those advisory bodies from the Code because they no longer exist. The fifth ordinance officially renames the agency. Second readings and approvals of the ordinances are scheduled for April 17th. As usual, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Commissioners on just about any topic. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 4/3/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

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