KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Welcome "Speedy" the Horse to Grants Pass Downs

The Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce will be on hand for a Ribbon Cutting ceremony officially welcoming "Speedy" the horse to Grants Pass Downs.

The ceremony will be held after the 3rd Race on Sunday the 28th at about 2:00 p.m.

"Speedy," a bronze 10 foot sculpture was designed and forged by Arizona artist Trevor O'Tool. Originally set to greet visitors at the Flying Lark complex, he has now taken permanent residence at the Redwood Avenue entrance to Grants Pass Downs.

Backed by a mural from local artist Crystal Pyren, the sculpture depicts a sitting “Speedy” peering through his eyeglasses, studying the Daily Racing Form.

Acquired from River Valley Church, the sculpture was purchased with donations from the Oregon Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the Southern Oregon Horse Racing Association, and the Horseman’s Racing Association.

Rod Lowe, Grants Pass Downs CEO and Director of Racing is thrilled by the new welcome awaiting patrons. “I’m very excited how so many organizations and individuals came together to make Grants Pass Downs “Speedy’s” new home.”

Posted on 9/26/25 5:54AM by Alex Bauer

Illinois Valley Fire District Responded to Structure Fire in O'Brien

The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to a fire in O'Brien Thursday.

At 3:09 p.m. yesterday, a structure fire was reported on the 33000 block of Redwood Highway.

Units from IVFD, ODF Southwest Oregon District, and AMR-Josephine County responded to the incident.

Upon arrival, crews observed smoke emanating from the eaves of the structure. The fire was subsequently contained to a couch, and an investigation is being conducted.

Posted on 9/26/25 5:37AM by Alex Bauer

Rural Metro Fire Responded to Two Separate Burning Ford Trucks Thursday

Firefighters with Rural Metro responded to two separate truck fires Thursday.

At 11:14 a.m., a fire crew from Rural Metro's Merlin Station was alerted to a fully involved Ford F250 in the 400 block of Ewe Creek Road.

Along with an Oregon Department of Forestry crew, firefighters converged on the scene and quickly knocked down the fire. There was no spread to surrounding vegetation.

At 3:55 the same day, firefighters from Rural Metro's North Valley Station responded to a Ford F350 burning in the 3600 block of Merlin Road.

Again, ODF crews joined North Valley firemen and quickly extinguished the blaze, preventing any wildland spread.

Mechanical issues were blamed for both truck fires.

Posted on 9/26/25 5:17AM by Alex Bauer

Max's Mission's 9th Annual Overdose Awareness Day Coming to Medford

Max's Mission is holding its 9th annual Overdose Awareness Day event in Medford this weekend.

On Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Hawthorne Park, all are welcome to join this family-friendly event to connect with community organizations offering vital resources and support.

Hear from speakers, enjoy live music, as well as face-painting, food trucks and prizes.

This collaboration brings together over 30 local organizations with a wide range of expertise and resources, offering attendees direct access to harm reduction tools, recovery support, housing assistance, and healthcare services.

Overdose Awareness Day is a space for remembrance, connection, and healing made possible through the collective efforts of Max’s Mission and their generous sponsors. It's a way to ensure that every person who attends can find the information, support, or sense of community they need.

Posted on 9/26/25 4:51AM by Alex Bauer

Rogue Community College Dental Hygiene Students to Offer Free Screenings

Starting next week, Rogue Community College second-year dental hygiene students will begin accepting appointments for free dental screenings. Appointments take place at the RCC Dental Hygiene Clinic at the Table Rock Campus Health Professions Center, located at 7731 Pacific Ave., White City. Screenings include a limited radiographic series and periodontal evaluation to determine the type of hygiene services most beneficial for each patient. Screenings are performed by students under the supervision of licensed dental professionals. The appointments provide valuable hands-on training for RCC dental hygiene students while offering the community access to high-quality, affordable, and preventive dental care. To schedule an appointment, call (541) 955-7577 or email dentalinfo@roguecc.edu.

Posted on 9/26/25 4:38AM by Alex Bauer

Music4Kids Expands and Rebrands as Southern Oregon School of Music

A local community music school is expanding its offerings for the community and has rebranded itself in the process.

With five newly added rooms, Music4Kids, now Southern Oregon School of Music, will be able to offer more lessons and classes for students ages eight to adult, while still featuring the Kindermusik program for young families.

To celebrate, the school is hosting a grand Re-Opening, Saturday the 27th, at 141 NW C Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is open to the public and will include a ribbon cutting by the Chamber of Commerce, free Kindermusik mini-classes and lesson trials, food vendors, a scavenger hunt, raffles, prizes, and other activities.

Students at Southern Oregon School of Music will experience top-quality musical training in a supportive and family friendly environment, whether exploring music for fun, personal growth, or performance.

Posted on 9/26/25 4:27AM by Alex Bauer

Butte Falls Area Fredenburg Bridge Replaced after Arson Event

Nearly a year after a decades old wood bridge outside of Butte Falls was burned, the structure has been replaced and the road is reopened to the public.

The Fredenburg Bridge has been rebuilt into a 45’ long by 23’ wide concrete deck bridge with steel support beams anticipated to hold strong well into the future.

The unanticipated expense to replace the bridge was nearly $1 million. The Roads and Parks Department ensured adequate reserves in the County Road fund, which was able to cover the cost.

Steve Lambert, the Jackson County Roads and Parks Director says, “With over 900 miles of county roads and 331 bridges in our county road system, anything can happen. This is why we budget conservatively to enable us to deal with the unexpected.”

Posted on 9/26/25 4:24AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Arrested Suspect Outside Local Business for Meth Possession

A man smoking meth outside a local business was arrested by Grants Pass Police officers Wednesday.

Deputies contacted a man smoking outside Rogue Valley Tax Service, 1454 NW 6th Street, after receiving a complaint from an employee. The suspect, identified as Sean Mitchell, had a broken glass pipe on the ground next to him.

The pipe had a burnt residue inside. After detaining Mitchell and during a consent search, officers found another pipe in his rear pants pocket. It had a bulb end and contained a burnt crystalline substance which field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Mitchell was trespassed from the business and taken to the Josephine County Jail. He was released that afternoon due to limited resources at the jail.

Posted on 9/25/25 2:18PM by Alex Bauer

Jackson County FedEx Driver Honored for Saving Child from Dog Attack

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners presented a Lifesaving Award to FedEx driver Chris Matthews Wednesday for saving a girl from a dog attack.

While delivering packages in Jacksonville around noon December 6, 2024, Chris saw a girl being mauled by two Cane Corso dogs inside a pen. Without hesitation, he ran toward the danger, shouting to draw the dogs’ attention and calling for help.

With the aid of nearby workers, he entered the enclosure, distracted the dogs, and pulled the critically injured child to safety so she could receive emergency medical care.

The girl has since made a full recovery. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is proud to honor Chris for his extraordinary courage and life-saving actions on that day, saying Chris’s heroism reflects the best values of courage, compassion, and responsibility.

Posted on 9/25/25 12:24PM by Alex Bauer

Community Wildfire Defense Grant to Fund ODF Project Proposals

Two project proposals led by the Oregon Department of Forestry have been selected to be funded by the Community Wildfire Defense Grant.

The Cave Junction-Takilma-Illinois Valley Mira Fuels Mitigation Project in the ODF Southwest Oregon District will receive over $2.3 million

This project actively engages private landowners, provides technical assistance, and expands prescribed fire training opportunities, strengthening community resilience while reducing hazardous fuel loads.

The other ODF proposal selected for funding is the South Lane Wildfire Risk Reduction receiving over $2.6 million.

In total, organizations in Oregon have received $28.5 million to fund six projects, all with the end goal of creating more wildfire resilient communities.

ODF’s project proposals focus on assisting communities in reducing wildfire risk through mitigation work, education, defensible space assessments, and becoming a Firewise USA site.

Posted on 9/25/25 11:51AM by Alex Bauer

A Bicycle Chase Leads to GP Police Arrest of Suspect on Multiple Charges

Grants Pass Police officers apprehended a man wanted on a felony warrant after a lengthy bicycle chase Wednesday evening.

Officers contacted Daniel Myers and told him he had a felony warrant out for his arrest. Myers fled on his bicycle, and a chase ensued.

After a lengthy pursuit around the Wal-Mart and WinCo areas, officers were able to subdue Myers on NE F Street by pushing him to the ground. He refused to put his hands behind his back, but officers were able to take him into custody.

Myers was found to be in possession of meth and a modified flare gun loaded with a 357 magnum round. Officers transported him to the Josephine County Jail and lodged him on his First Degree Theft warrant, plus charges of Third Degree Escape, Resisting Arrest, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Meth Possession.

Posted on 9/25/25 11:34AM by Alex Bauer

Board of Commissioner's Weekly Business Session Focused on Public Comment

With no administrative actions on the agenda, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners made quick work of their Weekly Business Session today. Moving straight to Public Comment, with five minutes allowed to speak due to the light agenda, members of the community brought up topics including accusing the commissioners of violating the constitution, support for the library, usage of the Dimmick Property, and those for and against the recalls against Commissioners Andreas Blech and Chris Barnett. After comments, Commissioner Ron Smith encouraged community members to bring ideas and solutions to the Public Comment period, Commissioner Barnett called for unification in the county, and Commissioner Blech invited people to reach out and talk with him about their concerns.

Posted on 9/25/25 11:09AM by Alex Bauer

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