KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Jackson County Wildfire Survivor Gets First Recovery Grant from ReOregon HARP Program

A Jackson County wildfire survivor is in a new home after becoming the first homeowner to receive funding from the ReOregon Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP). The HARP program's funding comes from the federal $422 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery to help Oregonians and communities recover from the 2020 Labor Day Disasters. The local homeowner -- who did not want to be identified -- said the new three-bedroom, two-bath manufactured home is a chance to start fresh and get back a sense of normalcy. A federally-funded program launched in 2024, HARP provides qualified homeowners whose properties were damaged or destroyed by the wildfires and straight-line winds in September 2020 with financial assistance to repair, rebuild or replace their homes. The local homeowner chose the Home Purchase Pathway, which allows eligible survivors to buy a stick-built or manufactured home that is already installed. Oregon Housing and Community Services has received hundreds of HARP applications for assistance from every county affected by the disasters, and staff continue to review them for eligibility. To learn more about HARP and other ReOregon programs, visit "re.oregon.gov."

Posted on 2/18/25 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

City of Grants Pass Starts 2025-26 Community Development Block Grant Program with Survey

The City of Grants Pass has launched its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the next fiscal year. The 2025-26 Annual Action Plan will fund activities and projects to be identified in the new 5-Year Consolidated Plan in early 2025. The process will follow timelines specified in the City's Citizen Participation Plan and federal law. The City will review the plans at its August 6th meeting. Assessing the needs and priorities of the Grants Pass community through public outreach is the first step in the process. A public survey is now available online to gather input and suggestions as to what are the most important needs and priorities for the community in the coming year. A public hearing before the Grants Pass City Council is planned for April 16th to review the comments and suggestions from the survey, which is open from now until March 17th. The survey can be found at "surveymonkey.com/r/ZYGNR8Q." The new 2025-2029 5-Year Consolidated Plan and the 2025-26 Year 1 Annual Action Plan will be available for public comment from June 9th to July 14th and it will be posted on the City's CDBG page.

Posted on 2/18/25 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

Britt Festival Announces First Installment of Summer Concerts for 2025 Season

Britt Music & Arts Festival has announced its first installment of concerts for the 2025 summer season in Jacksonville. The first of three official season announcements, this extensive group of shows features a wide array of musical artists include first-time-to-Britt "Rainbow Kitten Surprise," singer-songwriter Regina Spektor, country artists Brothers Osbourne and indie band Waxahatchee. Britt will also be welcoming back legendary artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago, Andy Grammer, California Honeydrops, Buena Vista Orchestra, Gregory Alan Isakov and many more. With this announcement, there will be a Member Pre-Sale before tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 28th. Two more concert announcements are scheduled for March 14th and April 11th, with some individual shows to be announced in between. Tickets and more information can be found at "brittfest.org" or by calling the Box Office at (541)-773-6077.

Posted on 2/18/25 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Reports GP Woman Killed in Friday Crash on Highway 140 in Lake County

A Grants Pass woman was killed in a motor vehicle accident in Lake County late last week. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle crash near milepost 55 of Highway 140 at 11:33 a.m. Friday. Troopers said the preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Nissan Sentra driven by 47-year-old Laura Anne Keys left the highway for unknown reasons, rolled down a steep embankment and came to rest on its top. According to OSP, Keys was declared deceased at the scene. The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by Lake County Search & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Posted on 2/17/25 11:54AM by Sam Marsh

One Person Injured in 2-Vehicle Collision on Redwood Highway North of CJ

One person was injured in a motor vehicle accident that occurred late last night on Redwood Highway near Cave Junction. On Sunday at 10:37 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Transportation were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision in the 25,600-block of US Highway 199. IVFD officials said arriving units found two vehicles with significant damage that were obstructing the highway. They said one occupant was extricated from the wreckage and transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries. ODOT provided traffic control while Jerry's Towing removed the vehicles. OSP was conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Posted on 2/17/25 10:25AM by Sam Marsh

GPPD Investigation Resulted in Arrest of Man for Alleged Case of Violence

A Grants Pass Police Department investigation resulted in the arrest of a man for domestic violence late last week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 32-year-old Anthony M. Horton in the area near Bi-Mart on Friday at 5:24 p.m.. Few details were released about the investigation, but police said Horton was wanted for probable cause of Strangulation, Menacing and Harassment. Before finding him near Bi-Mart, officers had looked for him at Tussing Park. Horton was lodged at the Josephine County Jail where he was being held without bail.

Posted on 2/17/25 10:24AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Shattering Front Door of Jo County Courthouse

Grants Pass Police jailed a well-known offender for felony vandalism and other crimes after he shattered a glass door at the main entrance of the Josephine County Courthouse. The Police Department reports officers arrested 31-year-old Jose Manuel Urias near the corner of 6th and D streets on Saturday at 3:48 p.m. following a brief foot pursuit. Police said Urias ran into traffic on 6th Street and almost caused a bicycle crash. They said he acted like he was going to damage a patrol car before he ran off. He appeared to be intoxicated when he was observed throwing an object at the front doors of the Courthouse. The glass was broken on one of the large mechanical doors and damage was estimated to be more than $1,000. Urias fled on foot after being told to stop and that he was under arrest. After being captured at 6th and D, officers confirmed he was heavily intoxicated. Urias was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Disorderly Conduct and Escape. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 2/17/25 10:22AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Felon for Parole Violation after Drunken Behavior at Park

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for violating his post-prison supervision by being drunk and disorderly at a city park over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 27-year-old Christian Anthony Bartell at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway on Saturday evening. Police said the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received a hang-up call from Bartell's mother. Dispatchers called her back and she stated that her son was at the park while intoxicated and acting aggressively toward others. One of the terms of his post-prison supervision is a prohibition on alcohol. Upon contacting Bartell, officers said he showed several indicators of impairment so he was placed into custody. Bartell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation and he was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show he has been arrested for violating his parole at least five times over the past 12 months.

Posted on 2/17/25 10:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man for Committing Petty Theft & Trespassing at WinCo

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for committing petty theft at WinCo Foods over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the supermarket on NE Terry Lane on Saturday around 9:35 p.m.. Police said WinCo loss prevention alerted them to a group of people who appeared to be stealing small items from the store. The group was described as two male adults, a female adult and a teenage boy. They were being watched on video cameras. As the group was leaving the store, loss prevention advised 35-year-old Wayne Patrick Baker that if he passed the last point of sale without paying for any items concealed on his person, he would be taken into custody. Baker chose to leave $2.47 worth of items in his pockets as he left the store and he was arrested. Baker was lodged at the nearby jail facility for 3rd-Degree Theft and Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 2/17/25 10:18AM by Sam Marsh

Local Teacher and Coach Arrested for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Former Student

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office has arrested a local teacher and coach after an investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of a former student in Rogue River. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 30-year-old Jesse Rex Orndoff of Selma on Friday. He is charged with 10 counts each of 2nd-Degree Sex Abuse, 3rd-Degree Rape and one other felony-level sex crime. Last Thursday, a woman reported she was the victim of sexual abuse perpetrated by her teacher and coach -- Orndoff -- while she was a student and he was employed at Rogue River Junior-Senior High School. The victim is no longer a student at the school. Investigators said the sexual abuse occurred over the span of several years while the victim was between 15 and 17 years old. Although Orndoff no longer works for the Rogue River School District, he was most recently employed by the Rogue Christian Academy in Grants Pass. Both schools are cooperating with the investigation. Investigators believe Orndoff may have additional victims. If anyone has any information related to this case, they are encouraged to contact Detective David Seese at the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Tip Line at (541)-774-8333.

Posted on 2/17/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Man for Stealing Scooter from Back of Truck at Motel 6

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing a scooter from the back of a truck parked at Motel 6 over the weekend. The Police Department reports the incident involving 32-year-old Cody Wayne Luttrell occurred at the motel on NE 7th Street late Friday night and he was arrested on Saturday afternoon. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report that his son's $400 scooter was stolen from the west side of the motel where it was secured to the back of his vehicle. Video surveillance showed the suspect walked around the complex, untied the scooter and rode it away south on 6th Street. Photos of the suspect and scooter were sent to patrol officers. On Saturday afternoon, officers located Luttrell and the stolen scooter in an unspecified location where he admitted to the theft and was placed into custody. Luttrell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. The scooter was logged into evidence for safekeeping pending contact with the victim.

Posted on 2/17/25 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Nabbed Young Motorist for DUII after Weekend Traffic Stop West of GP

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a young motorist for impaired driving following a weekend traffic stop west of Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a Buick Envista driven by a 19-year-old man on Lower River Road near Needlewood Drive on Saturday around 3:20 a.m.. Deputies said they stopped the Buick for observed traffic violations and the driver displayed signs of impairment. They said he refused to perform field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of impairment. The suspect was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His car was impounded. According to the report, there were three passengers in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop. Two of them arranged for rides while the third was given a courtesy ride home.

Posted on 2/17/25 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

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