Local News

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for extreme speeding on Interstate 5 in the Hugo area this week. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Dodge Charger driven by a 27-year-old man in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 66 on Monday afternoon. Troopers said the motorist was observed driving in excess of 135 miles per hour on the descent down Mount Sexton just prior to the traffic stop. The motorist was arrested and charged with Reckless Driving along with some other traffic violations. He was cited to appear in court and then released.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners has scheduled five public hearings for its weekly business session this morning. The first public hearing is for seven requests for annexation to the Josephine Community Library District. The annexations are by petition of the landowners. The four other hearings are on the first readings of ordinances repealing and amending chapters of the Josephine County Code, with the second readings set for May 15th. They pertain to the Southern Oregon Library Information System, Law Enforcement Data System, Law Library and Public Works Revolving Fund. Not on the meeting agenda is the proposed sale of the Pipe Fork timber property near Williams. The offer tendered by a nature conservancy organization expires today. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board will make an appointment to the Parks Advisory Board. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The City of Grants Pass is soliciting applications for new construction of residential housing developments that will serve qualified low- and moderate-income households. The city has $479,379 from the Oregon Housing Opportunity Fund to distribute to qualified projects. The deadline to apply for the funds through this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is June 21st at 3 p.m.. To be eligible for this funding, the resulting units must serve households whose income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for rental housing or 100% AMI for homeownership units. The city's current housing incentives such as the Affordable Housing System Development Charge Waiver, Urban Renewal Funding and Community Development Block Grants are expected to be available and may supplement projects under this NOFA. In 2021, the City of Grants Pass adopted the Affordable Housing Construction Excise Tax (CET), which is the funding source of the Housing Opportunity Fund. The overall purpose of the CET, per Senate Bill 1533 and its accompanying rules, is to help local jurisdictions address their communities' housing needs. The Grants Pass City Council elaborated on those rules by stating the fund should be specifically used to support the creation of new housing units.

 

Applications are being accepted for four positions on the Collaborative Economic Development Committee (CEDC). One position expires on June 30, 2025, and three positions expire on June 30, 2027. The CEDC is an advisory committee to the City of Grants Pass and Josephine County. The panel is responsible for the implementation of the Joint Economic Development Strategic Plan adopted by the Grants Pass City Council and Josephine County Board of Commissioners. The plan can be found on the City website at "grantspassoregon.gov." Target areas include Services, Infrastructure and Workforce Development. All members of the CEDC must be at least 18 years of age and reside within the boundaries of Josephine County. Special qualifications and experience for these positions includes Business Retail, Manufacturing/Industrial, Finance/Commercial Lending/Real Estate, and one Member-at-Large. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, June 21st.

 

The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office is offering grants for work on historic properties and for archaeology projects. The annual grants fund up to $20,000 in matching funds for preservation projects. Both grant programs support the goals of the Oregon Historic Preservation Plan. The Preserving Oregon Grants fund preservation of historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Work may include non-maintenance preservation like window repairs, foundation projects, plumbing and electrical needs. One recently funded project was Celia's House in Medford. Preserving Oregon Grants can also fund archaeology projects for significant work contributing toward identifying, preserving and/or interpreting archaeological sites. An archaeology project by the Southern Oregon Laboratory of Anthropology was funded last year. To learn more about the grants and workshops, visit "oregonheritage.org."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners has scheduled five public hearings for its weekly business session tomorrow morning. The first public hearing is for seven requests for annexation to the Josephine Community Library District. The annexations are by petition of the landowners. The four other hearings are on the first readings of ordinances repealing and amending chapters of the Josephine County Code, with the second readings set for May 15th. They pertain to the Southern Oregon Library Information System, Law Enforcement Data System, Law Library and Public Works Revolving Fund. Not on the meeting agenda is the proposed sale of the Pipe Fork timber property near Williams. The offer tendered by a nature conservancy organization expires tomorrow. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board will make an appointment to the Parks Advisory Board. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) jailed a Cave Junction man on a warrant for drug trafficking last night. The Grants Pass Police Department reports detectives arrested a 54-year-old male subject at a home in the 100-block of Ken Rose Lane on Monday at 6:07 p.m.. RADE detectives said the man was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant which contained a secret indictment for Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Fentanyl, as well as Unlawful Possession and Delivery of Methamphetamine. No other details about the arrest or charges were disclosed by RADE or GPPD. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held in lieu of posting $75,000 bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order yesterday after he was found at a southwest city home containing a protected family member. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 1400-block of SW Bridge Street on Monday around 3:50 p.m.. Police said a friend of the 34-year-old man's mother called 9-1-1 to report that he was at their home next to a trampoline. The caller stated the mother has a valid restraining order against her son and both of them were locked inside the house. Officers arrived on scene and found the man in the backyard of the residence where he was placed into custody without incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant while he was sleeping at the entrance to a city park early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers contacted the 30-year-old male subject at Baker Park on Monday shortly before 10 a.m.. Police said the man was sleeping on a utility grate at the park entrance and he was known to them from prior contacts. They said he was found to be wanted on a Medford Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. As the man was being placed into custody, he was found to be in possession of a small baggie containing a white substance plus a tooter, syringe and foil. The items were seized for destruction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was warned for the narcotics violations in hopes that he will seek treatment. His property was turned over to a friend at his request.