Local News

The Illinois Valley Fire District battled a small grass fire near Selma yesterday that was the result of an escaped debris burn. On Wednesday at 1:22 p.m., IVFD crews responded to an uncontrolled burn in the 1900-block of Draper Valley Road. IVFD officials said the fire was contained and mopped-up at an estimated 1/4-acre. Firefighters warned the responsible party for burning debris on a "No Burn" day and for doing so without a required IVFD permit.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to make an important proclamation regarding law enforcement during its business session this morning. The Board will open the meeting by proclaiming May 11th-17th as "National Police Week." Next Tuesday, May 13th, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Grants Pass Police Department and Oregon State Police will honor the six local officers who have given their lives to safeguard our rights and freedoms. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider an order that defines the responsibilities of the County Road Official. There will also be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Grants Pass City Council last night passed a resolution and an ordinance amendment that are aimed at halting the preliminary injunction the city is under that currently prohibits it from restricting resting in most public spaces. The City Council first dealt with the ordinance amendment that was passed twice. It unanimously declared a state of emergency and consolidated the restrictions on prohibiting camping in all city parks as well as sleeping on sidewalks, streets or in doorways. The amendment will go into effect as soon as the injunction is lifted. The Council followed that with the resolution that delineated portions of 712 NE 7th Street, 704 NW 6th Street, 711 NW 5th Street and 714 NW 6th Street where a person may live, sleep, or leave personal property overnight within those locations for up to 96 hours before they must relocate. Those sites bring the total number of resting spaces available to more than 150. In other business, an ordinance was approved to annex property at 535 Lincoln Road for development of a five-lot residential subdivision. The property is zoned for medium-density development. Councilors also approved an ordinance amending the Urban Growth Boundary and the Comprehensive Plan Map. The ordinance affects approximately 40 acres. It is basically a land swap with some property being added to the UGB and an equal amount taken out.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is seeking qualified individuals to apply for the Budget and Elected Officials Compensation committees. The Josephine County Budget Committee is composed of three Board members and three members of the public. It is responsible for reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The Josephine County Elected Officials Compensation Committee is composed of three members of the public. This committee will review comparable counties' elected officials' compensation within Oregon and make a recommendation to the Budget Committee regarding Josephine County's elected officials. There is one vacancy on the Budget Committee and three vacancies on the Elected Officials Compensation Committee. Applications can be found online at "josephinecounty.gov" under "Government, Committees and Advisory Boards," or individuals may pick up an application from the Board of Commissioners Office at the Courthouse in Grants Pass.

 

Asante Health Systems is holding a mass casualty drill near Three Rivers Medical Center that will temporarily shut down a Grants Pass street early tomorrow. On Friday from 7 to 10 a.m., Ringuette Street from Grandview Avenue to the Southgate Cinema driveway will be closed to through traffic to accommodate a Mass Casualty Incident Drill. Numerous emergency vehicles will be deployed in the area, but this is only a drill. Grants Pass Deputy Fire Chief Joe Hyatt said Asante's mass casualty drill will be similar to the one conducted in October 2023. A medical helicopter is scheduled to land in a field during the drill. The Ringuette Street closure is for safety reasons. Emergency vehicles will be utilized to ensure the roadway is closed and there will be ground spotters during the helicopter's landing and takeoff. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and find alternate routes during the drill.

 

The Grants Pass City Council Wednesday night passed a resolution and an ordinance amendment aimed at relieving the injunction the city is under allowing the unhoused to rest in public areas except Riverside and Reinhart Volunteer parks. The Council first dealt with the ordinance amendment that was passed twice unanimously declared an emergency and consolidated the restrictions on camping in city parks and sleeping on sidewalks, streets, alleys, or in doorways. The Council followed with the resolution that delineated portions of 712 NE 7th Street, 704 NW 6th Street, 711 NW 5th Street and 714 NW 6th Street where a person may live, sleep, or leave personal property overnight within those locations for up to 96 hours before an individual must relocate. Those location bring the total number of spaces available to 150. An ordinance was approved to annex property at 535 Lincoln Road for development of a five-lot residential subdivision. The property is zoned for medium density development. Councilors also approved an ordinance amending the Urban Growth Boundary and the comprehensive plan map. The ordinance affects approximately 40 acres. It is basically a land swap with some property being added to the Boundary and an equal amount taken out. The transactions increase the feasibility of accommodating the city’s housing needs for the next 20 years. Land that was added is primarily flat with reasonable access to city infrastructure. The land swap must also be approved by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners who are set to hear the same presentation May 19th. The Council voted to readopt the City’s investment policy that has been in effect since 2022 and keeps at least $3 million in local banks in the form of certificates of deposit. The reservation fees charged for Riverside Park for the upcoming Frog O’Faire children’s event in the amount of $425.75 was waived by the Council. Eric Wade was appointed to the Solid Waste Agency.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to make an important proclamation regarding law enforcement during its Thursday business session. The Board will open the meeting by proclaiming May 11th-17th as "National Police Week." Next Tuesday, May 13th, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Grants Pass Police Department and Oregon State Police will honor the six local officers gave who have given their lives to safeguard our rights and freedoms. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider an order that defines the responsibilities of the County Road Official. There will also be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Tomorrow's public meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a fugitive wanted on nationwide and statewide felony warrants in the north part of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 43-year-old Jaime Ray Boone at the Seventh Day Adventist Church Thrift Store and Food Bank on NE 7th Street on Tuesday at 8:42 a.m.. Police had been looking for Boone across the city because he was wanted on two fugitive warrants out of Marion County in Indianapolis, Indiana, for Felony Parole Violation related to crimes of 4th Degree Assault and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. He was also wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation. Boone was easy to identify due to his facial tattoos. He was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrants. It was unclear if he was going to be extradited back to Indiana.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for felony drug trafficking and she could be facing additional charges following a Tuesday night traffic stop in a southeast city neighborhood. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a Dodge Durango driven by 48-year-old Raelene Michele McKy near the corner of SE 10th and H streets around 8:30 p.m. yesterday. Officers said they stopped McKy for an obstructed license plate and she told them there was methamphetamine in the vehicle. They said she consented to a search which uncovered a black box containing about 16 grams of meth plus packaging materials and $210 in cash. She was also found to be in possession of multiple cellphones and shaved keys, which were also seized as evidence. McKy was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Possession and Delivery of Meth. She was also cited for Driving While Suspended and No Insurance. Her vehicle was impounded.