Local News

GP Police Evicted 8 Campers from City Parks for Ordinance Violations
Grants Pass Police evicted a total of eight people from city parks during routine patrols this week. At Kesterson Park, Jacob Reeder, David Guest, Ashley Hanson and John Hanson were all cited for Illegal Camping when they failed to remove their campsites after 72-hour notices were issued on February 1st. The Hansons were also cited for Unlawful Use of Park Open Space and trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Gilbert Creek Park, Matthew Williams and Rose McLaughlin were cited for Scattering Rubbish and issued 30-day exclusions because it was their second such violations within one year. At Westholm Park, Caleb Rossiter was cited for Illegal Camping when he failed to remove his campsite after a 72-hour notice was issued on February 1st. He was also cited for Buffer Zone Violation and trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Morrison Centennial Park, Derek Hood and Maria Guerrero was cited for Buffer Zone Violations. They were trespassed from the park because it was their second violations within the past year. At Tussing Park, Glenn Miller was cited for Illegal Camping when he failed to remove his campsite after a 72-hour notice was issued at the beginning of the month. It was his second citation in the last year, so was issued a park exclusion.
Posted on 2/7/24 11:25AM by Sam Marsh
 

Grants Pass Police Jailed Suspect for Murdering Man at SE Park Plaza Apartment
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The Grants Pass Police Department has arrested a man in connection with a murder that happened early yesterday in the southeast part of the city. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident in the 1,000-block of SE Park Plaza shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday. Police said a male subject called 9-1-1 to report he had shot another man. Upon arrival of officers, 25-year-old Kiernan Fucci exited the residence and surrendered. Inside the apartment, officers discovered a male who was deceased from at least one gunshot wound. The deceased has been identified as 23-year-old Jhonathan R. Davis, Jr.. Grants Pass Police Lieutenant Jeff Hattersley said other occupants of the apartment were confirmed to be unharmed. He said there was no risk to the public and the incident was limited to the apartment. Kiernan Fucci was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of 2nd-Degree Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call the Grants Pass Police Department at (541)-450-6260.
Posted on 2/7/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh
 

RADE Search Warrant Nets Drugs, Guns, Explosives & Arrest in Colonial Valley
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Assisted by multiple agencies, Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) arrested a suspect for drug and weapon crimes after serving a search warrant in the Colonial Valley area north of Grants Pass this week. On Monday around 4 p.m., members of the RADE team, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Grants Pass Police Department, Oregon State Police Explosives Unit and US Homeland Security served the warrant in the 300-block of Colonial Drive. The search warrant revealed multiple ounces of methamphetamine, eight firearms (three of which were stolen), US currency and illegal explosives including blasting caps and other destructive devices. The suspect -- 76-year-old Michael Edward Dills -- was placed into custody and booked into the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Unlawful Possession of Meth. Additional drug- and gun-related charges against Dills were referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration. The RADE team is a multi-jurisdictional task force that identifies, disrupts and dismantles local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency and prosecutor-supported approach. RADE is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. It is composed of officers from OSP, GPPD, Josephine County Community Corrections and the Josephine County District Attorney's Office.
Posted on 2/7/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
 

OSP Arrested Woman for Causing Ruckus at GP Parkway & Parkdale Drive
The Oregon State Police arrested a woman for causing a disturbance on the Grants Pass Parkway this week. OSP reports troopers observed a female subject on Highway 199 at its intersection with Parkdale Drive on Monday morning. Troopers said 34-year-old Marissa Elizabeth Winters was screaming at traffic that was stopped at a red light at the intersection. They did not disclose what or why she was screaming. Winters was immediately placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct.
Posted on 2/7/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh
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IVFD Dispatched to Chimney Flue Fire Already Suppressed by Occupants
The Illinois Valley Fire District rushed to the scene of a chimney flue fire in Cave Junction late yesterday. On Tuesday at 4:44 p.m., IVFD crews responded to a reported structure fire in an unspecified location. It was clarified to be a flue fire. IVFD officials said the occupants of the home had suppressed the fire prior to their arrival. Crews confirmed there was no further extension into the home. Officials said the fire was extinguished with no further issues. No one was hurt and there was no damage estimate available.
Posted on 2/7/24 6:11AM by Sam Marsh
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BCC to Consider Collecting Bargaining Agreement & Animal Shelter Levy
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners faces a short agenda with two important considerations for its weekly business session this morning. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will decide whether to approve a collective bargaining agreement between Josephine County and the Laborers' International Union of North America Local 737. The labor union represents Public Works employees including road maintenance workers, vehicle service workers and mechanics as well as traffic control, road surface and vegetation control coordinators. In other business, the Commissioners will decide whether to refer to voters a five-year local option tax levy for the Josephine County Animal Shelter and Animal Control. If approved, the levy charging 47 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value will appear on the May 21st ballot. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.
Posted on 2/7/24 6:00AM by Sam Marsh
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GP City Council Prepared to Relax Restrictions on Utility Easements and Erosion Permits
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The Grants Pass City Council is preparing to relax restrictions on utility easements and erosion control permitting to help spur development of affordable housing. During its weekly workshop this week, a majority of the City Council signaled its intent to amend some development codes in response to complaints from the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Josephine County. The HBA recently sent a letter to the City of Grants Pass with a list of 22 items it considers detrimental to developing middle- to low-income housing including utility easements and erosion control permits. Those items were the focus of this week's workshop session. Grants Pass Public Works Director Jason Canady stated the current city codes and standards were designed to protect citizens -- but he acknowledged that some of the rules might be outdated, especially in light of new state mandates enacted to create more affordable housing across Oregon. HBA officials said private easements for water and sewer hookups give them the ability to serve land-locked parcels or those without street frontage. They also said the current rule mandating water meters in public rights of way should be relaxed to allow them on private streets serving new affordable housing developments. The City Council listened intently to the HBA's concerns and stated they would be relaxing some of the current requirements to help create more affordable housing in a city that desperately needs it.
Posted on 2/7/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh
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State Awards $5 Million to Southern Oregon Company for Manufacturing Modular Housing
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Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has awarded $20 million to modular housing developers to boost production of these homes through Oregon. The developers will prioritize supplying modular housing that is affordable to state and local governments following a wildfire or other disaster, low-income housing construction and middle-income housing construction. Housing is considered modular when building sections are built in a factory and then put together at the intended site. The modular method of housing development can help accelerate affordable housing production as it can lower construction costs and reduce construction schedules compared to traditional building methods. OHCS created the Modular Housing Development Fund to distribute the $20 million allocated through House Bill 2001 in the 2023 legislative session. Four out of 17 eligible applicants were funded including one in Southern Oregon. Pacific Wall Systems, Inc., of Phoenix was awarded $5 million to produce modular housing for people displaced by the 2020 Almeda Fire that devastated Phoenix and Talent along with portions of north Ashland and south Medford.
Posted on 2/7/24 5:54AM by Sam Marsh
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Josephine Community Library Partners with UCAN to Offer No-Cost Tax Assistance
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Citizens can visit the Grants Pass branch of Josephine Community Library to receive help completing their federal and state taxes online for free. The no-cost tax filing assistance is being provided by United Community Action Network (UCAN) volunteers from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Fridays from February 8th through April 5th. With an appointment, UCAN VITA volunteers will assist participants who wish to file their own taxes by setting up a profile with free TaxSlayer filing software -- some computer skills are required. Alternatively, appointments can be scheduled with an in-person tax preparer to file on your behalf and no computer skills are required for this option. Walk-ins seeking forms and answers to tax-related questions will be accommodated as time allows. The participant's tax returns should be simple such as job compensation, social security and retirement 1099s. The maximum annual income without social security must be less than $79,000 to participate in this program. To make an appointment, citizens should call UCAN at (541)-223-9597.
Posted on 2/7/24 5:51AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Police Jailed Suspect for Murdering Man at SE Park Place Apartment
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The Grants Pass Police Department has arrested a man in connection with a murder that happened early this morning in the southeast part of the city. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident in the 1,000-block of SE Park Plaza shortly after 4 a.m. today. Police said a male subject called 9-1-1 to report he had shot another man. Upon arrival of officers, 25-year-old Kiernan Fucci exited the residence and surrendered. Inside the apartment, officers discovered a male who was deceased from at least one gunshot wound. The name of the deceased was being withheld until next of kin could be notified. Grants Pass Police Lieutenant Jeff Hattersley said other occupants of the apartment were confirmed to be uninjured. He said there was no risk to the public and the incident was limited to the apartment. Kiernan Fucci was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of 2nd-Degree Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call the Grants Pass Police Department at (541)-450-6260.
Posted on 2/6/24 2:31PM by Sam Marsh
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Board to Consider Collecting Bargaining Agreement and Animal Shelter Levy
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners faces a short agenda with two important considerations for its weekly business session on Wednesday. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will decide whether to approve a collective bargaining agreement between Josephine County and the Laborers' International Union of North America Local 737. The labor union represents Public Works employees including road maintenance workers, vehicle service workers and mechanics as well as traffic control, road surface and vegetation control coordinators. Temporary and part-time employees are not part of the bargaining unit. In other business, the Commissioners will decide whether to refer to voters a five-year local option tax levy for the Josephine County Animal Shelter and Animal Control. If approved, the levy charging 47 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value will appear on the May 21st ballot. Tomorrow's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.
Posted on 2/6/24 11:21AM by Sam Marsh
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Ashland Police Chief Announces 2011 Grubbs Murder Investigation "Still Active"
The Ashland Police Department has announced that a 12+-year-old murder investigation remains open and active. APD Chief Tighe O'Meara reports two new detectives have been assigned to look into new leads in the November 2011 murder of David Grubbs. Chief O'Meara said the case remains important to the Grubbs' family as well as the Ashland community and its police department. As detectives continue to pursue new leads, anyone with additional information is encouraged to reach out to APD at (541)-488-2211. The reward for information leading to an arrest in this case is more than $21,000.
Posted on 2/6/24 10:37AM by Sam Marsh
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