Local News

The Josephine County District Attorney's Office was deciding whether to file charges against a Grants Pass man who was allegedly caught by the Oregon State Police breaking into a parked pickup on Interstate 5 at Highland Hill. OSP reports troopers detained the 43-year-old man along the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 60 on Tuesday morning. Troopers released few details about the incident, but the vehicle involved in the break-in was identified as a green Chevrolet C-1500 pickup and the suspect tried to run away. He was chased down and detained, but not arrested. OSP referred charges of Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and Attempt to Elude Police against the suspect to the DA's office for consideration.

 

Police arrested a female transient for making a nuisance of herself at the Grants Pass Shopping Center this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to perform a welfare check on the 29-year-old woman at the shopping center on NE D Street on Tuesday night. Officers said Concierge Security contacted them about a female subject who had scattered a large amount of garbage behind a paint store and refused to leave the premises when contacted. The woman was yelling that she needed Top Ramen. She was offered a ride to the Sobering Center, but did not want to go there. According to the report, the woman had been previously trespassed from the shopping center and she also wandered onto a nearby residential property. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Criminal Trespass. Her trespass warning at the shopping center was renewed and she was issued another warning for the residential property.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving early yesterday during a traffic stop on the southwest side of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a red Cadillac driven by a 32-year-old man near the corner of Redwood Avenue and Allen Creek Road on Wednesday at 2:46 a.m.. Police said they stopped the suspect vehicle after the motorist was seen driving outside of his travel lane several times and nearly striking a curb on US Highway 199 near Ringuette Street. They said the driver exhibited signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. The suspect was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. He was cited for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and then released. His car was parked and secured.

 

The Grants Pass City Council approved an ordinance annexing the property at 2117 Allen Creek Road into the city limits to facilitate the expansion of Allen Creek Road to include the development of a regional stormwater facility. Public Works requested the annexation of the 3.25-acre property. The ordinance was approved unanimously with five "yes" votes. The Council then approved the zoning of the annexed property to R-2 with five voting "yes" and one abstention. The second reading will be at the next business session. An ordinance amending the comprehensive plan map and the zoning map for property located at 235 NW Scenic Drive was approved unanimously. The land will be transferred to Home Bridging GP to create a moderate-high density development of 22 moderately-priced cottages available for seniors 62 and older. The fifth ordinance of the night vacating the property lines between three lots at 670 and 680 Rogue River Highway to allow the further development of a self-storage facility was also approved unanimously. Another unanimous vote okayed a resolution revising the development agreement with Chrisman Development, Inc., reducing the number of affordable housing units from 66 to 51 on the surplus property known as the SW Ramsey Avenue. The project has had funding problems, but with fewer units the project is more financially feasible.

 

The Board of Commissioners on Wednesday adopted four ordinances that made some necessary alterations to the Josephine County Code. Following public hearings on the second readings of the ordinances, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the changes involving the Southern Oregon Library Information System (SOLIS), Law Enforcement Data System (LEDS), Public Works Revolving Fund and Law Library. Assistant Legal Counsel Leah Harper testified that SOLIS was adopted in 1999 as a library network connection for Josephine, Jackson and Klamath counties -- but since Josephine Community Library District is no longer run by the County, it is being repealed. The chapter on LEDS was created in 2002 for Human Resources (HR) to conduct background checks on employees and volunteers, but HR is now using a third-party system and no longer needs LEDS. It is also being repealed. Harper testified that Public Works Revolving Fund was established in 1991 to administer state funding for road maintenance and repairs, but it was closed about 20 years ago and is being repealed. A chapter on the Law Library was amended to offer more flexible hours for legal staff and the public. The Law Library will stay open as long as the state continues to fund its operation.

 

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce has announced that Terry Hopkins has been selected as its new CEO and President. A local entrepreneur with deep roots in the community, Hopkins brings over 25 years of business management experience in Southern Oregon to his new role. A lifelong resident of Grants Pass, Hopkins is a graduate of Grants Pass High School. His career has been marked by a commitment to the local economy and community, with an extensive background in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Hopkins has worked with Thomason Hospitality Group and served as a business advocate for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. Most notably, he opened and currently operates the popular Grants Pass bar and restaurant Steam Distillery which launched in 2021. Hopkins' appointment marks a promising new chapter for the Chamber of Commerce as it continues to support and advocate for local businesses and economic growth in the region. He starts his new job on June 24th.

 

The Grants Pass City Council was called to order with three councilors absent, Dwight Faszer, Brian DeLaGrange and Rob Pell missing. Councilor Pell did arrive after the first vote. Later in the meeting Councilor Lovelace recused herself for one vote. An ordinance annexing the property at 2117 Allen Creek Road into the city limits to facilitate the expansion of Allen Creek Road to include the development of a regional stormwater facility. The total property is 3.25 acres. The Public Works Department requested the annexation. The ordinance was approved unanimously with five yes votes. The Council then approved the zoning of the annexed property to R-2 with five voting yes and one abstention after Councilor Pell arrived late. The 2nd reading will be at the next business session.
An ordinance amending the comprehensive plan map and the zoning map for property located at 235 Northwest Scenic Drive was approved unanimously. The land will be transferred to Home Bridging G.P. to create a moderate-high density development of 22 moderately priced cottages available for seniors 62-years-old and older. The fifth ordinance of the night vacating the property lines between three lots at 670 and 680 Rogue River Highway.to allow the further development of a self-storage facility was also approved unanimously. A resolution revising the development agreement with Chrisman Development, Inc. reducing the number of affordable housing units from 66 to 51 units on the surplus property known as the Southwest Ramsey Avenue. The project has had funding problems but with fewer units the project is more financially feasible. The approval was unanimous

 

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce has announced that Terry Hopkins has been selected as its new CEO and President. A local entrepreneur with deep roots in the community, Hopkins brings over 25 years of business management experience in Southern Oregon to his new role. A lifelong resident of Grants Pass, Hopkins is a graduate of Grants Pass High School. His career has been marked by a commitment to the local economy and community, with an extensive background in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Hopkins has worked with Thomason Hospitality Group and served as a business advocate for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. Most notably, he opened and currently operates the popular Grants Pass bar and restaurant Steam Distillery which launched in 2021. Hopkins' appointment marks a promising new chapter for the Chamber of Commerce as it continues to support and advocate for local businesses and economic growth in the region.

 

The Board of Commissioners this morning adopted four ordinances that made some necessary alterations to the Josephine County Code. Following public hearings on the second readings of the ordinances, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the changes involving the Southern Oregon Library Information System (SOLIS), Law Enforcement Data System (LEDS), Public Works Revolving Fund and Law Library. Assistant Legal Counsel Leah Harper testified that SOLIS was adopted in 1999 as a library network connection for Josephine, Jackson and Klamath counties -- but since Josephine Community Library District is no longer run by the County, it is being repealed. The chapter on LEDS was created in 2002 for Human Resources (HR) to conduct background checks on employees and volunteers, but HR is now using a third-party system and no longer needs LEDS. It is also being repealed. Harper testified that Public Works Revolving Fund was established in 1991 to administer state funding for road maintenance and repairs, but it was closed about 20 years ago and is being repealed. A chapter on the Law Library was amended to offer more flexible hours for legal staff and the public. The Law Library will stay open as long as the state continues to fund its operation.