KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

GoFundMe Account Set Up to Help Grants Pass Family & Business Devastated by Fire

A Grants Pass area family faced devastation last week when their sole source of income was lost to a fire. A two-alarm fire in the 5500-block of Jerome Prairie Road badly damaged a shop building housing River City Eurotech. Two vehicles inside the shop along with miscellaneous tools and equipment were lost in the blaze. However, several vehicles parked outside the burning building were pushed away and not seriously damaged. Fortunately, no one was injured. For over 20 years, Matt Duncan has used his skills as a master automotive technician, not just as a profession but as a means to help community members. Matt helped countless people in the community with vehicle repairs at little or no cost. He also volunteers his time at a local church and homeless shelter. The Josephine County community is being asked to come together to support the Duncan family and River City Eurotech through a GoFundMe fundraiser. All proceeds will go to rebuilding the business and providing basic needs for the family. To donate, visit "gofundme.com/f/healing-through-rebuilding-duncan-family."

Posted on 1/22/24 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

Southern Oregon Traffic Stop Led to Seizure of Large Amounts of Narcotics

A Southern Oregon traffic stop this week led to the seizure of large amounts of dangerous drugs. Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement (MADGE) intercepted a vehicle on Interstate 5 south of Ashland on Tuesday evening. MADGE investigators had received information that a vehicle was transporting large amounts of narcotics into this area. With assistance from the Oregon State Police and the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET), detectives stopped the vehicle and Medford Police K9 "Brodie" alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search warrant was obtained, and a search of the vehicle yielded 105 pounds of methamphetamine and 12 pounds of fentanyl. Detectives arrested 31-year-old Cruz Bernardo Lopez-Ramos and lodged him at the Jackson County Jail for commercial drug offenses of Unlawful Possession and Distribution of Meth, and Unlawful Possession and Distribution of Fentanyl. The MADGE team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts and dismantles local, out-of-state and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, prosecutor-supported approach. MADGE is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), which is a nationally-sponsored program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

Posted on 1/20/24 6:22AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Snared Central Point Man for DUII & More after Interstate 5 Crash in GP

The Oregon State Police arrested a Central Point man for multiple crimes and an outstanding warrant after he crashed his vehicle on Interstate 5 in Grants Pass early yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews were dispatched to a single-vehicle wreck in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 56 on Friday at 12:34 a.m.. Troopers said arriving units found a Subaru Legacy off the freeway and the driver had fled on foot. A short time later, 32-year-old Bradley Lyle Lesh was located and he showed strong signs of impairment. He was placed into custody and transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly three times the legal driving limit. Bradley Lesh was subsequently transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Reckless Driving, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, Criminal Mischief and Driving While Suspended along with an out-of-county warrant for Probation Violation. A 55-year-old Central Point woman was identified by OSP as a witness and Lesh's Subaru was impounded.

Posted on 1/20/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Sex Offender on Felony Warrant after He Arrived to Register

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant this week when he reported to register as a convicted sex offender. According to the Police Department, officers contacted and arrested 37-year-old Geret John Losoya at GPPD headquarters on NE 7th Street on Monday. Police said Losoya arrived in the agency lobby to complete his sex offender registration when it was discovered that he was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant containing a secret indictment for 1st-Degree Rape. He was placed into custody without incident. Geret Lasoya was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $250,000 bail. He was awaiting transfer to the Jackson County Jail in Medford.

Posted on 1/20/24 6:09AM by Sam Marsh

Portland Area Woman Wanted in Michigan Captured by OSP in North Valley

A Portland area woman wanted for assaulting a police officer in Michigan was apprehended this week by the Oregon State Police on Interstate 5 in the North Valley area. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Toyota Camry driven by 19-year-old Laila Marie Gelfand of Milwaukie in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 63 on Thursday. Troopers said they stopped Gelfand for speeding and quickly discovered that she had a full extradition warrant out of Michigan for assaulting a police officer. She was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail in Grants Pass. Gelfand's vehicle was released to a passenger per her request.

Posted on 1/20/24 6:07AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Trying to Pass Funny Money at Supermarket

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for attempting to pass counterfeit money at a local supermarket this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a fraud complaint at the Williams Highway Safeway store on Wednesday night. Police said a woman they identified as "Noi Hardesty" tried to pass obviously fake bills as currency and the store refused to accept them. When confronted by store management and officers, the suspect acted as though she didn't known the money was counterfeit. However, she had been arrested for doing the same thing in 2019. Hardesty was charged with Felony 1st-Degree Forgery. She was cited to appear in court and released from custody.

Posted on 1/20/24 6:05AM by Sam Marsh

GP 911 Communications Center Begins Releasing Weekly Statistics in 2024

The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center made a resolution to provide weekly statistics in 2024. It's called the "Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Week in Review," and the agency just released its stats from January 11th through January 17th. Total 9-1-1 calls received last week was 1,115 including 974 for the Grants Pass Police Department, 328 for American Medical Response and 101 for the Grants Pass Fire Department. Rural Metro Fire Department received 60 9-1-1 calls last week while the Illinois Valley Fire Department received 29, Williams Rural Fire Protection District got 11, and the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District and Oregon Department of Forestry each got two. These "Partners in Protection" jointly ask motorists to slow down and drive safely as the weather continues to bring us rain, sleet and snow. Over the past week, first responders were dispatched to 26 vehicle crashes including three that had rolled.

Posted on 1/20/24 6:03AM by Sam Marsh

City of GP to Conduct Public Safety Listening and Learning Session Next Thursday Night

The City of Grants Pass will convene a listening and learning session next week related to funding public safety. It's the next step for the City Council in its quest to select supplemental funding for police and fire services. The session is slated for next Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Grants Pass City Council Chambers. According to the meeting agenda, city staff will present an overview of the issue while addressing why the city needs this funding and the various options that have been previously attempted. Staff will then present the options being considered -- a general sales tax combined with a utility fee. The City Council and staff will address public safety funding questions submitted in advance of the forum and at the forum. People in attendance will have a chance to provide their brief verbal comments to the Council that will help them determine a solution to this important issue. Members of the public are encouraged to submit written questions or comments to the City Council before 3 p.m. on Thursday. They can be submitted via e-mail to "kfrerk@grantspassoregon.gov" or by phone to (541)-450-6000. The session will be streamed "live" via RVTV and on the City of Grants Pass YouTube channel.

Posted on 1/20/24 5:59AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff 's Office Receives Several Complaints about Scams Being Perpetrated on Citizens

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office has received several complaints this week regarding scams being perpetrated on citizens. Deputies report residents are being called by an individual claiming to work for the Sheriff's Office and demanding they discuss a legal matter with him. Variations of the scam include having an outstanding warrant, missing jury duty or citations that will be escalated if they are not taken care of immediately. In all of the reports filed so far, citizens did the right thing by hanging up the phone. The call-back number that the scammer is providing is not from the Sheriff's Office. Typically, scammers will demand some sort of payment over the phone, through an app or by purchasing gift cards. Law enforcement agencies do not operate in this fashion. As with any of these sorts of scams, it's always a good idea to simply hang up and not provide any information over the phone. If you believe the call might be real, search for the phone number and call to verify any information that was relayed to you. Citizens are encouraged to take the time to share this warning with their family and friends that are not on social media.

Posted on 1/20/24 5:56AM by Sam Marsh

GoFundMe Account Set Up to Support GP Family and Business Devastated by Fire

A Grants Pass area family faced devastation earlier this week when their sole source of income was lost to a fire. A two-alarm fire in the 5500-block of Jerome Prairie Road on Monday badly damaged a shop housing River City Eurotech. Two vehicles inside the shop along with miscellaneous tools and equipment were lost in the blaze. However, several vehicles parked outside the burning building were pushed away and not seriously damaged. Fortunately, no one was injured. For over 20 years, Matt Duncan has used his skills as a master automotive technician, not just as a profession but as a means to help community members. Matt helped countless people in the community with vehicle repairs at little or no cost. He also volunteers his time at a local church and homeless shelter. The local community is being asked to come together to support the Duncan family and River City Eurotech through a GoFundMe fundraiser. All proceeds will go to rebuilding the business and providing basic needs for the family. To donate, visit "gofundme.com/f/healing-through-rebuilding-duncan-family."

Posted on 1/20/24 5:54AM by Sam Marsh

NWS Issues Hydrologic Outlook Showing Potential for Flooding in Region

The National Weather Service has issued a Hydrologic Outlook that shows there is potential for flooding in southwest Oregon this weekend. This could lead to the Weather Service posting a Flood Watch for Josephine, Jackson, Douglas, Coos and Curry counties. The outlook calls for snow melt flooding, quick rises of streams and creeks to near bank-full, and ponding of water in low-lying areas as well as poorly-draining urban areas. A long duration atmospheric river event is forecast to bring between one and five inches of rain to the region from tonight through Monday morning. Rainfall amounts are expected to be highest in Josephine and Curry counties in Oregon along with Siskiyou County in California. However, excessive rainfall with snow levels consistently around 6,000 feet and melting snowpack raises the risk for widespread flooding throughout the region. As well as flooding concerns, this rainfall could also lead to increased occurrences of rockfalls and localized landslides. A Flood Potential Outlook is issued when there is potential for significant rises or flooding along rivers and streams. The exact scenario for flooding remains uncertain and this outlook may be updated with a Flood Watch of Flood Warning.

Posted on 1/19/24 1:52PM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Drug-Fueled Rampage with Pipe in Redwood Area

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for going on a drug-fueled rampage while wielding a large metal pipe in a Redwood area neighborhood yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 44-year-old Ely Benjamin Smith at the Redwood Center on Redwood Avenue on Thursday at 3:05 p.m.. Police said officers responded to a report of a disorderly male subject armed with a metal pipe on Annabelle Lane. They contacted a highly-intoxicated Smith, who refused to drop the three-foot metal fence post and claimed he was "God." Several de-escalation tactics were used -- but the suspect still refused to drop the pipe, and he threatened officers with the weapon and his alarming behavior. Smith fled from police through private property and he was recontacted at the Redwood Center where he continued to flee until he was subdued by deployment of a Taser. After being cleared by doctors at Three Rivers Medical Center, Ely Smith was booked into the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, Resisting Arrest, Escape and Disorderly Conduct. He was still in custody this morning without any scheduled bail.

Posted on 1/19/24 11:44AM by Sam Marsh

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