KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Josephine Sheriff's Patrol Vehicles Damaged in Robertson Bridge Road Wreck

Two Josephine County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicles were damaged when they apparently crashed into each other near Merlin early yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers responded to the two-vehicle collision in the 400-block of Robertson Bridge Road on Monday at 1:41 a.m.. OSP did not disclose any details about the crash, but the agency identified the involved vehicles as black Chevrolet Tahoes owned by the Sheriff's Office. The drivers were identified as 27-year-old Ron Gonzalez and 25-year-old Luke Smith. A passenger in one of the vehicles was identified as 30-year-old Tyler Fonbuena. No injuries were reported and the drivers arranged for their own tows.

Posted on 7/29/25 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles Unveils New Option to Report Collisions

Getting into a collision can be stressful and sometimes scary. Fortunately, reporting the collision to the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) just got easier. Drivers involved in a collision can now complete and submit the report to DMV using their new online service. All you need is an internet connection and the ability to log onto "DMV2U.oregon.gov." By law, you must filed a collision report -- formerly called an accident report -- with Oregon DMV within 72 hours of a motor vehicle collision when injury or death resulted from the collision, damage to your vehicle is over $2,500, damage to anyone's property other than a vehicle involved in the collision is over $2,500, or damage to any vehicle is over $2,500 and any vehicle is towed from the scene. ODOT's Crash Analysis & Reporting Unit recorded 46,762 reportable crashes on all roads in Oregon in 2023. Oregon DMV staff annually process about 200,000 Oregon Traffic Collision and Insurance Reports. The collision report on DMV2U can be filled out using smartphones and other devices, and you will immediately receive a confirmation email and reference number.

Posted on 7/29/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

Buckle Up! 2025 Josephine County Fair Kicks Off 5-Day Run in GP on Wednesday

Buckle Up! The 2025 Josephine County Fair starts tomorrow at the Fairgrounds in Grants Pass. The five-day summer extravaganza runs Wednesday through Sunday, with free gate admission plus free parking and a shuttle at Rogue Community College. The Caveman Kiwanis is offering parking at the Fairgrounds for $10 per vehicle, with $15 VIP parking upon availability. It's a fundraiser for their local programs. Featured entertainment includes Challenge of Champions Bull-Riding Wednesday, a "live" concert with Ned LeDoux and Rodney Atkins on Thursday, The 4TheKids Livestock Auction on Friday, Super Moto Racing USA on Saturday, and Youth and Amateur Motorcycle Racing on Sunday. There is also free daily entertainment on the Pavilion Stage as well as The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show at Midway Park plus strolling entertainment along the Midway. A new carnival vendor -- Midway of Fun -- will also be part of the Fair. Other reasons to visit the Fair include Exhibit Halls, Kids Alley, Bingo, numerous vendors and -- of course -- all that great Fair food. For more information about the Fair, visit "josephinecountyfairgrounds.com."

Posted on 7/29/25 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

National Weather Service Posts Fire Weather Watch for Parts of SW Oregon/NW California

The National Weather Service has posted a Fire Weather Watch for much of southwest Oregon and northwest California late Wednesday. The Fire Weather Watch calls for the chance of abundant lightning on dry fuels, resulting in the potential for numerous fire starts in the Rogue and Illinois valleys in Oregon as well as the Shasta Valley and Siskiyou County in California. Scattered to widespread thunderstorms with widespread lightning are possible. The storms are likely to be wet, but lightning strikes outside of precipitation cores are possible with cause for concern for new fire starts. Wind gusts of 35 to 50 miles per hour could travel outward up to 25 miles from thunderstorm cores. Residents in the affected areas are urged to follow all fire restrictions. Avoid any activities that could cause sparks. A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible during the valid watch time. These conditions could promote the rapid spread of fire which could become property- and/or life-threatening. Check for forecast updates and a possible upgrade of the Watch to a Red Flag Warning.

Posted on 7/29/25 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

ODOT Hosting Open House on Highway 62-Highway 234 Roundabout Project in EP

The Oregon Department of Transportation is hosting an open house in Eagle Point on Wednesday evening regarding the Highway 62 and Highway 234 Roundabout. The event will be held tomorrow from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Eagle Point City Hall, 17 South Buchanan Avenue. ODOT officials said the meeting is an opportunity for the community to learn more about the upcoming project that is scheduled to kick off construction in 2027. The agency will have members of the project team as well as subject matter experts available to speak with about the project. The project will provide a single lane roundabout at the intersection of Highways 62 and 234 to help reduce the number of crashes. Various options are available to improve safety at this intersection ranging from installation of a traffic signal to installation of a roundabout. This intersection previously has been upgraded with flashing beacons and turn lanes. However, additional improvements are required to further reduce the crash rate.

Posted on 7/29/25 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Cited Medford Man for Crashing Pickup through Guardrail in Wonder Area

The Oregon State Police cited a Medford man after he crashed his vehicle through a guardrail on Redwood Highway in the Wonder area. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to a single-vehicle wreck on US Highway 199 near Waters Creek Road on Saturday at 12:15 p.m.. Troopers said evidence at the scene indicated that 63-year-old Halden Robert Holden was driving a Dodge Ram pickup when he failed to negotiate a curve, crashed through a guardrail and into the back yard of a Waters Creek residence. According to OSP, Holden sustained minor injuries in the accident -- but it was unclear if he was transported to the hospital. His wrecked pickup was towed to Grants Pass. The Oregon Department of Transportation was advised of the guard rail damage and the property owner was given a crash report due to damage to their fence. Following the investigation, Holden was cited for Failure to Drive Within Lane.

Posted on 7/28/25 10:55AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine Sheriff's Patrol Vehicles Damaged in Robertson Bridge Road Wreck

Two Josephine County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicles were damaged when they apparently crashed into each other near Merlin early today. The Oregon State Police reports troopers responded to the two-vehicle collision in the 400-block of Robertson Bridge Road at 1:41 this morning. OSP did not disclose any details about the crash, but the agency identified the involved vehicles as black Chevrolet Tahoes owned by the Sheriff's Office. The drivers were identified as 27-year-old Ron Gonzalez and 25-year-old Luke Smith. A passenger in one of the vehicles was identified as 30-year-old Tyler Fonbuena. No injuries were reported and the drivers arranged for their own tows.

Posted on 7/28/25 10:53AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Man for Drug Possession & More after Business Complaint

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for drug possession and another crime after responding to a weekend complaint made by a local business owner. The Police Department reports officers contacted 47-year-old Steven Adam Hughes in the 800-block of NE 7th Street on Saturday around 7:30 p.m.. Police said Hughes was called in for shooting up narcotics while standing next to a tree across the street from a pet grooming business. They said he appeared to be under the influence when they detained him, finding him to be in possession of just over one gram of methamphetamine and some non-prescribed methadone. According to the report, a large pile of human feces was located across the parking lot from Hughes. He told officers if they were his feces, they would be on him and they appeared to be smeared on the back of his shoes. Hughes was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and Offensive Littering.

Posted on 7/28/25 10:52AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man on Outstanding Warrants for Bad Behavior at Rest Site

Grants Pass Police arrested a male transient known for frequently exhibiting bad behavior on two outstanding warrants. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 40-year-old Matthew Richard Williams near the NW 6th & A Street resting site at 8:52 p.m. Friday. Police said they performing a patrol check when they spotted Williams and knew that he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for Disorderly Conduct. Both warrants were issued last Thursday. Williams was placed into custody without incident and lodged at the Josephine County Jail where he was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/28/25 10:50AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Returning to Coffee Stand Where He was Trespassed

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for returning to a coffee stand from which he had already been trespassed. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a male transient at the Human Bean stand on NE F Street on Saturday shortly before 6 a.m.. Police said 50-year-old Brian Jay Steffen had been loitering near the stand and refused to leave when asked to do so by a 17-year-old female employee who was working alone and feeling uncomfortable about his presence. He reportedly threw his coffee in the street and fled to the Grants Pass Shopping Center when he saw the employee on the phone. Steffen was contacted and placed into custody in the PetCo parking lot. He had been trespassed from the same coffee stand on July 6th. Steffen was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

Posted on 7/28/25 10:49AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Women from 5th Street Resting Site Due to Repeat Violations

Grants Pass Police evicted two women from a downtown resting site due to repeat violations of city ordinances. On Saturday evening, officers were performing a patrol check at the NW 5th Street resting site when they contacted Rachel Beeman and Jennifer Condon. Beeman was cited for Utilization of Space and Scattering Rubbish before she was issued a 30-day trespass from the homeless encampment. Condon was cited for Utilization of Space and Scattering Rubbish, and she was also issued a 30-day exclusion notice. Due to her behavior, she was also contacted by her corrections officer. Officers said three people they identified as Aaron Storm, Shani Fedosky and Keith Fisher were "hanging out in absolute filth" including urine bottles, clothing, wire and trash. The trio advised all of the items belonged to another man whom officers planned to contact at a later time.

Posted on 7/28/25 10:48AM by Sam Marsh

Emergency Agencies Rescued Injured Swimmer from Illinois River Campground

Emergency agencies rescued a seriously injured swimmer from a popular Illinois River campground over the weekend. The Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported traumatic injury at Little Falls Campground on Eight Dollar Mountain Road on Saturday around 3:15 p.m.. IVFD officials said a patient with a possible fractured leg was extricated from the river with a Stokes basket and then carried up a steep incline to an ambulance, which transported them to Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass. Officials said a US Forest Service hand crew provided additional support during the patient retrieval. No other information about the incident was available.

Posted on 7/28/25 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

Local News