KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

BCC to Hold Public Hearings on Road Transfers & GP Library Lease Agreement

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the transfer of certain roads to the City of Grants Pass at the beginning of its weekly business session tomorrow, with the main event set for the end of the meeting. The Board will hold hearing transferring jurisdiction of certain county roads located within the city limits to the City of Grants Pass. They include parts of Highland Avenue, 10th Street, Willow Lane and Denton Trail. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider an order selling a small piece of property on Garden Valley Way as well as the Josephine County Transit Coordination Plan and Transit Service Reductions. At the end of the session, the Board will hold a long-anticipated public hearing on a lease agreement for the Grants Pass branch library. The hearing was moved to the end of the meeting in anticipation of numerous public comments and potentially lengthy deliberation. Thursday's public meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 8/13/25 11:57AM by Sam Marsh

Forest Service Battling Scenic Fire Burning in High Cascades Ranger District

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is battling a wildfire that broke out in the High Cascades Ranger District on Tuesday. The US Forest Service this morning reported the Scenic Fire burning east of Oregon Highway 230 near National Creek was 83 acres, with 5% containment. Firefighters worked through the night to establish line and hose lays along the west flank of the wildfire. With a Red Flag Warning in play, fire activity remained high overnight, with spot fires up to a half-mile east of the blaze -- most of which are now inside the perimeter of the main fire as it has progressed to the east. Crews first responded to the fire on Tuesday afternoon when it was reported to be three acres in size and burning in heavy timber. It had grown to 70 acres by 9 p.m.. Resources on scene included four hand crews backed by 17 engines, three dozers, two falling modules and multiple aircraft. Orders have been placed for five more hand crews, two Type 1 heavy helicopters for bucket work and two scooper planes. Motorists should expect travel delays and smoke impacts along the Diamond Lake Highway. They are urged to watch for fire crews working in the area. The National Weather Service has posted another Red Flag Warning from 2 to 8 p.m. today. Moderate to strong winds combined with critically low relative humidity can lead to rapid growth and spread of new and existing fires. Fire danger on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is currently "high." Risk will increase over the next few days with high temperatures, low humidity levels and winds. Please use caution when recreating in the woods. Law enforcement will be patrolling the forest as air and ground resource looking for any new fire starts.

Posted on 8/13/25 11:39AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed GP Man for Throwing Lumber over Fence & Hurting Neighbor

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Grants Pass man for injuring his neighbor's wife by throwing lumber over the fence that separates the properties. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 50-year-old Michael Allen Smith for the incident in the 1500-block of Lonnon Road on Tuesday at 1:28 p.m.. Deputies said an investigation determined that Smith had become hostile with his neighbors and he intentionally threw some boards over the fence that struck his neighbor's wife. The woman was hurt, but she did not require medical transport. Upon arrival, deputies attempted to contact Smith -- but he drove toward them with a skid steer and yelled at law enforcement to leave his property. He told deputies he did not want to talk to them and drove away on the skid steer. Smith reportedly showed up at the Sheriff's Office a few hours later to talk to a deputy and he was placed into custody. Smith was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two felony counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two misdemeanor counts of Menacing. He was being held without bail. He was also served with an unrelated Stalking Order.

Posted on 8/13/25 11:27AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Damaging Grocery Outlet by Starting Cardboard Fire

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for damaging a local grocery store early yesterday by setting a fire in cardboard being stored behind the building. The Police Department reports officers arrested 43-year-old Gabriel Feliciano for the incident at Grocery Outlet off NE Agness Avenue on Tuesday at 6:54 a.m.. Police said an investigation determined that Feliciano intentionally started a fire behind the store, causing damage to the business. He was contacted in the area and matched the description of the suspect in video provided by Grocery Outlet. He had been trespassed from the store in October 2024. During a consent search, Feliciano was found to be in possession of a white crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction. Feliciano was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Reckless Burning, 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass and Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/13/25 11:25AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Threatening People at RR Highway Recycling Depot

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing public alarm by acting violently at the Bottle Drop Center yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at the recycling depot on Rogue River Highway on Tuesday around 11:45 a.m.. Police said the manager of the business called 9-1-1 to report a male subject was threatening customers by telling them he would kill them if they did not buy him a beer. The man -- later identified as 42-year-old David Brian Rich -- threatened a female customer as well as some employees, but no one was hurt. An investigation based on video surveillance determined Rich generated multiple calls for service with his violent and tumultuous behavior. He was contacted near the Fruitdale Grange and placed into custody. Rich was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and he was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/13/25 11:24AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Woman for Causing Traffic Disruption on NW 6th Street

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for causing a traffic disruption in the north part of the city yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a NW 6th Street call made by the manager of the Pinnacle 365 station on Tuesday during the noon hour. Police said the manager called 9-1-1 to report a female subject was loitering at the business for a few hours before she jumped into traffic on 6th Street, causing motorists to slam on their brakes and swerve out of the way. The woman -- later identified as 38-year-old Jessica Shawnae Ryan Knowlton -- was also reported to be flipping off drivers. Officers arrived on scene and placed Knowlton into custody. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. Her corrections officer was notified and she was trespassed from Pinnacle 365.

Posted on 8/13/25 11:23AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Apprehended Woman on Drug Warrants at Local Apartment Complex

Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman on two local drug warrants at a Rogue River Highway apartment complex yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 35-year-old Sarah Elizabeth Roddy in the 1400-block of Highway 99 on Tuesday at 3:18 p.m.. Police said they were on a call at the complex when they observed Roddy coming out of the apartment next door. She saw the officers and immediately shut the door, but they knew that she was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. Officers contacted the apartment manager who told her to come outside and she complied. Roddy was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. She was being held on $30,000 bail.

Posted on 8/13/25 11:22AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Narcotics Possession near Downtown Resting Site

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for drug possession near a downtown resting site yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 25-year-old Thaddeous James Plummer at the former OnTrack building that formerly housed the Yankee Pot Roast restaurant on NW 6th Street on Tuesday shortly after 1 p.m.. Police said Plummer and another man they identified as "James Redden" were contacted, and Plummer was found to be in possession of a straw and a white crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. Plummer was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and he was being held without bail. Both Plummer and Redden were trespassed from the property.

Posted on 8/13/25 11:20AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed GP Man for Impaired Driving after Highway 238 Stop in Murphy

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man for impaired driving after a traffic stop on Williams Highway in Murphy late yesterday. OSP reports troopers pulled over a GMC Rally driven by 79-year-old Jack Lewis Nutting near the intersection of Highway 238 and Murphy Creek Road on Tuesday at 5:06 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Nutting for a traffic violation and he displayed signs of impairment. They said he consented to voluntary field sobriety tests, further signs of impairment were observed and he was placed into custody. Nutting was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was cited to appear in court and released. His vehicle was released to a family member.

Posted on 8/13/25 11:19AM by Sam Marsh

Motorist Hurt When They Crashed Vehicle off Illinois River Road near Selma

A motorist was injured this week when they crashed their vehicle off Illinois River Road near Selma. On Monday evening, the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, the US Forest Service and Grayback Forestry were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck at the intersection of Illinois River Road and Forest Service Road 4105. IVFD officials said one individual was located approximately 50 feet from the roadway and was assisted back to the road. They said the patient was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Jerry's Towing was assigned to remove the vehicle and haul it to Cave Junction.

Posted on 8/13/25 11:18AM by Sam Marsh

Interstate 5 Fire near Merlin Hill Drew Large Response from Fire Agencies

A roadside fire along Interstate 5 near Merlin Hill this week drew a large response of local firefighters. Late Monday afternoon, Rural Metro Fire Department, the Oregon Department of Forestry and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to the incident next to the southbound lanes of I-5. Firefighters -- along with a couple of good Samaritans -- quickly contained the fire to just under a half-acre. The fire did not jump Highland Avenue to the south. ODF was investigating the cause of the fire.

Posted on 8/13/25 11:16AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Leading Murder-Suicide Investigation after Family of Five Found Deceased

The Oregon State Police is leading a murder-suicide investigation after a family of five were found dead at a Merlin area home this week. On Monday at 9:37 a.m., the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to the 200-block of Hussey Lane in the Pickett Creek area after receiving a request to check the welfare of the residents. It was reported that an adult female at the home had uncharacteristically not shown up for work. Deputies and the Oregon State Police arrived at the address and entered the home after observing suspicious circumstances around the property. Upon entry, law enforcement discovered five people who appeared to have been killed by a firearm. The deceased victims were identified as 40-year-old Chad Scott Behee, 42-year-old Hannah Marie Behee, an 11-year-old boy, a 9-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl. All died from gunshot wounds and Chad Behee is believed to be the suspect in a murder-suicide incident. The Sheriff's Office has requested that OSP lead the investigation with assistance from the Grants Pass Police Department. OSP detectives said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact them at 1-(800)-442-0774 or *OSP. Please reference Case #SP25-366471.

Posted on 8/13/25 6:39AM by Sam Marsh

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