Local News

The National Weather Service has extended the Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisory for southwest Oregon until Saturday morning. The Winter Storm Warning in Jackson, Josephine, eastern Curry and eastern Douglas counties remains in effect for areas above 2,500 feet until 10 a.m. Saturday as does the Winter Weather Advisory above 1,500 feet. Heavy snow is expected above 2,500 feet, with total accumulations of between one and four feet. Winds could gust as high as 65 miles per hour. Snow is expected above 1,500 feet, with total accumulations of six to 12 inches and up to 18 inches above 2,000 feet. Winds could gust as high as 30 miles per hour at low elevations. Affected areas include Cave Junction, Selma, O'Brien and Williams along with Highways 199, 238 and portions of Interstate 5 including the passes north of Grants Pass, as well as on 199 at Hayes Hill and the Collier Tunnel. Chains were required on all vehicles on I-5 over the Siskiyou Summit this morning. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility. Strong winds could cause tree damage. Travel is strongly discouraged because of dangerous driving conditions. If you must travel, keep tire chains, a flashlight, blankets, food, water, medications and a fully-charged phone with you. For the latest road conditions, visit "tripcheck.com."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved the adoption of an amendment to the Rural Land Development Code pertaining to wildfire and emergency safety standards for new homes on forested properties. Following a public hearing on Wednesday, the Board voted 3-0 to approve the second reading and adopt the ordinance that amends the development code criteria for the permitting of new dwellings in forest commercial and woodlot zones. Assistant Legal Counsel Stephanie Nuttall testified that the first reading of the ordinance was held February 14th after being continued from the January 31st meeting. She said the amendment changes language in the existing ordinance, dropping the requirement for developers of forested properties to obtain additional fire protection before a permit can be issued. Redundant language was eliminated. Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger said the only state requirement for new homes on forested land is that there is fire protection. He added that the Oregon Department of Forestry charges an annual fee for fire protection on those lands and that satisfies the requirement.

 

The Grants Pass Committee on Public Art invites artists 18 years of age and older to submit original artwork to be displayed on public transit. The artwork can be created in any 2-D or 3-D media except for video, film, installation or performance art for the Art in Motion project. The public art project is essentially a gallery on wheels. They will be displayed on 54-by-34-inch vinyl print on both sides of the Josephine Community Transit buses. The art is there to engage people, expand public art visibility, create opportunities for citizens to experience art in everyday life, and enhance the overall artistic climate of the City of Grants Pass. This proposal solicits submissions for two exhibition periods. The first is from late April through late October this year and the second is from October 2024 through March 2025. One or two artists may be chosen for each exhibition period. The work will be selected based on originality, artistic conception and quality. An effort will be made to represent a broad diversity of styles, media and disciplines.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved the adoption of an amendment to the Rural Land Development Code pertaining to wildfire and emergency safety standards for new homes on forested properties. Following a public hearing this morning, the Board voted 3-0 to approve the second reading and adopt the ordinance that amends the development code criteria for the permitting of new dwellings in forest commercial and woodlot zones. Assistant Legal Counsel Stephanie Nuttall testified that the first reading of the ordinance was held February 14th after being continued from the January 31st meeting. She said the amendment changes language in the existing ordinance, dropping the requirement for developers of forested properties to obtain additional fire protection before a permit can be issued. Redundant language was eliminated. Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger said the only state requirement for new homes on forested land is that there is fire protection. He added that the Oregon Department of Forestry charges an annual fee for fire protection on those lands and that satisfies the requirement. The changes do not prevent a rural property owner from acquiring fire protection from an existing district or private provider.

 

The Oregon State Police apprehended a fugitive wanted by authorities in California after a traffic stop on Interstate 5 in Grants Pass early yesterday. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Dodge Durango driven by 21-year-old Emilio Salvador Macias in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 55 on Tuesday at 9:24 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped Macias for traffic violations and they quickly learned that he had a felony warrant for his arrest out of California. The charges in the warrant were not disclosed by OSP. Emilio Macias was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail where he awaits extradition proceedings that will send him back to California. He was also cited for the traffic violations and his vehicle was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police jailed a Salem man who came to the Grants Pass Office to register as a convicted sex offender -- around seven years too late. OSP reports 66-year-old Larry Dennis Staton reported to their local office in the 1400-block of NE 7th Street on Tuesday at 2:45 p.m.. State troopers said Staton told them he wanted to register as a sex offender and they discovered that he had not registered as such since 2017. He was immediately placed into custody. Larry Staton was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on an outstanding felony warrant last night after a traffic stop on Redwood Highway. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a vehicle driven by 28-year-old Brittanie Marie Fazzone on US Highway 199 near Allen Creek Road on Tuesday around 8:40 p.m.. Police said they stopped Fazzone after spotting her making an illegal U-turn on the highway. That's when they discovered that she was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. She also had no driver's license or automobile insurance. Brittanie Fazzone was cited to appear in court on the warrant and then released. She was also cited for the traffic violations. Her vehicle was parked and secured.

 

Grants Pass Police snared a man for stealing merchandise from Walmart yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the big box retailer on NE Terry Lane on Tuesday at about 10:40 a.m.. Police said 43-year-old Nathan K. Mitson stole less than $100 worth of items from Walmart and fled from loss prevention on a bicycle. They said he was eventually located and detained on NE Spalding Avenue by the old lumber mill. Mitson reportedly admitted to the heist and was charged with 3rd-Degree Theft. He was cited to appear in court and then released after being trespassed from Walmart.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night during a traffic stop in the downtown area. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Silverado driven by 63-year-old George Alan Marconi near the corner of SE 7th Street and Voorhies Way on Tuesday at 10:42 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Marconi for a traffic violation and he appeared to be impaired. They said he refused to participate in field sobriety tests, so he was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was more than twice the legal driving limit. George Marconi was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. He was cited to appear in court and released, but his pickup was impounded.