Local News

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) jailed a local felon for multiple crimes this week after raiding an illegal cannabis growing site in Selma. JMET -- with assistance from Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety -- served a search warrant in the 6,000-block of Deer Creek Road on Tuesday. During execution of the warrant, approximately 25 pounds of processed marijuana concentrate and 1,200 marijuana starter plants were seized and destroyed. A large amount of cash was also seized as evidence. Detectives said 30-year-old Maximilian Robert Lixl was arrested and charged with Felony Unlawful Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Marijuana, Unlawful Appropriation of Water and Felony Parole Violation. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and was being held on a no-bail detainer. According to JMET, the property also had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations that could result in the criminal forfeiture of the property. JMET officials said the investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released at this time.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a motorist who threatened another man with a gun near Rogue Community College during a road rage incident that occurred this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 64-year-old male suspect in the 900-block of Campus View Drive on Tuesday evening. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that the suspect cornered her husband at the end of a cul-de-sac, yelled at him and pointed a firearm at him, but did not fire a shot. Both she and the couple's four-year-old son were in her husband's BMW. Officers said an investigation determined that the suspect was cut off in traffic by the husband and the suspect elected to chase him multiple blocks in residential areas while driving a GMC Acadia. The husband attempted to evade the suspect and turned down a street he was unfamiliar with that turned out to be a dead end. When the victim got out to confront the suspect, the suspect pulled out a pistol, pointed it at the victim and threatened to shoot him. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Responding officers placed the suspect into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a former employee of a local masonry company for fraudulently charging hundreds of dollars' worth of building materials to his former employer's account. The Police Department reports officers were alerted Tuesday afternoon to the theft incident that had occurred at Diamond Home Improvement on March 11th. Police said the 47-year-old man verbally identified himself as his former boss who has an account at Diamond. The man then charged 100 8-foot T-posts valued at $822 to the account, loaded them onto his truck and drove away. The incident was recorded on video surveillance and the owner of the company was able to identify his former worker. Officers used that information to track down the man and place him into custody in the 200-block of Lewis Avenue. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Felony Identity Theft and 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local felony warrant while investigating a trespassing complaint at a southeast city apartment complex this week. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident in the 1300-block of SE M Street on Tuesday evening. Police said the complainant stated that her neighbors were parking and blocking her driveway while walking across her yard. Officers contacted one of the residents and discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Possession of Cocaine. After the warrant was confirmed, the 23-year-old suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail where his bail was set at $30,000.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department will be conducting a "live" fire training exercise in a donated building scheduled for demolition on Saturday near Murphy. The exact location of the building was not disclosed, but the training is set for that morning. Rural Metro will also be conducting an American Flag Disposal Ceremony on Saturday, similar to the one done last year. If you have a worn, faded, ripped or tattered American flag that is needing proper retirement, you are welcome to drop if off at one of Rural Metro's staffed locations by Friday at 5 p.m.. Officials ask that you bring your flag properly folded to the Rural Metro office at 807 NE 6th Street in Grants Pass or to one of the Rural Metro stations on Williams Highway, Monument Drive, Redwood Highway or Azalea Drive.

 

The Grants Pass City Council did not have enough votes to override Mayor Sara Bristol's veto of an ordinance regulating humanitarian service events on publicly-owned property. Last night's 5-3 vote was identical to the March 6th vote to approve the ordinance. Agreement of 3/4 of the Council -- or six votes -- was needed to override the mayor's veto. In a press release announcing the veto, Mayor Bristol stated it is already illegal to possess or deliver drugs, needles or other drug paraphernalia in city parks and that extends to propane and kerosene tanks in parks or other publicly-owned properties. She said there is already a chapter in the Municipal Code that regulates special events on public property including standards for denial and an appeal process without singling out a specific type of use. The City Council meeting began with four quasi-judicial hearings. The first amended the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map for properties at 670 and 680 Rogue River Highway from General Commercial to Business Park. The applicant plans to construct a large self-storage building at that location. The amendment was approved unanimously.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved the second readings of amendments to three outdated ordinances on Wednesday. Following three brief public hearings, the Board voted unanimously to adopt new rules pertaining to media participation in executive sessions, minor changes in practices and procedures for the Finance Department, and the removal of the Unified Board of Appeals. The first readings were approved on March 6th. Assistant Legal Counsel Leah Harper testified that all the changes to the Josephine County Code reflect current state law. For instance, media can observe executive sessions but not record or report on them. Violators can be fined up to $1,000. The former Budget & Finance Department has been officially renamed the "Finance Department." Appeals to decisions made by the local building official are now heard by the state, so the Unified Board of Appeals no longer exists. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board appointed Jessica McClintock to a four-year term on the Josephine County Parks Advisory Board.

 

The Oregon State Marine Board recently filled a vacancy on its membership with a Rogue Valley resident who is the director of Jackson County Roads and Parks. Steve Lambert has worked in public park management for three decades. He began his career in parks and recreation in eastern Washington while earning a degree in Natural Resource Management from Washington State University. After college, Lambert spent a short amount of time working for the US Army Corps of Engineers on the Snake River in Clarkston, Washington, where his duties included patrolling the river to ensure safe and responsible use. In 1999, he moved to the Willamette Valley where he managed recreation facilities at three reservoirs. In 2009, Lambert and his family relocated to the Rogue Valley where he currently manages county park facilities on five reservoirs and the Rogue River.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning approved the second readings of amendments to three outdated ordinances. Following three brief public hearings, the Board voted unanimously to adopt new rules pertaining to media participation in executive sessions, minor changes in practices and procedures for the Finance Department, and the removal of the Unified Board of Appeals. The first readings were approved on March 6th. Assistant Legal Counsel Leah Harper testified that all the changes to the Josephine County Code reflect current state law. For instance, media can observe executive sessions but not record or report on them. Violators can be fined up to $1,000. The former Budget & Finance Department has been officially renamed the "Finance Department." Appeals to decisions made by the local building official are now heard by the state, so the Unified Board of Appeals no longer exists. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board appointed Jessica McClintock to a four-year term on the Josephine County Parks Advisory Board. The public comment period included requests for the Commissioners to remove Josephine County as a participant in Oregon's "Sanctuary State" proclamation, a request for removal of a troublesome "halfway house" from a rural neighborhood, a question about the status of the library district exclusion case, and a presentation of cupcakes to the Board to commemorate the upcoming observance of Easter.