KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Board to Hold Public Hearings on Five Adjustments to Josephine County Code

The Board of Commissioners will consider making several adjustments to the Josephine County Code during its weekly business session this morning. The Board will hold five public hearings -- four repealing chapters of the code pertaining to the Urban Area Planning Commission, Jackson-Josephine Region Board, Jefferson Behavioral Health and the Job Council, and one amending the Code related to the Solid Waste Agency. The first four ordinances will remove those advisory bodies from the Code because they no longer exist. The fifth ordinance officially renames the agency. Second readings and approvals of the ordinances are scheduled for April 17th. As usual, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Commissioners on just about any topic. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 4/3/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

Local Plaintiffs Drop Lawsuit Seeking to Keep Goodwin off May Ballot for State Senate Race

A group of Grants Pass voters have dropped their lawsuit seeking to keep State Representative Christine Goodwin off the May Republican primary ballot for Senate District 2. The Oregonian reports four voters and Josephine County Commissioner John West still contend that Goodwin is not eligible to represent the district because they allege she lives at a home just north of the district's boundaries — a claim Goodwin rejects. But it's too late to keep Goodwin off the ballot, the plaintiffs said in a filing to voluntarily dismiss the case, which was to have its first hearing in Josephine County Circuit Court this Friday. The group will pick up their legal challenge again if Goodwin wins the primary, attorney Steve Joncus wrote in his motion to dismiss the case. In a press release, Goodwin celebrated the development. She is running in the Republican state senate primary against Noah Robinson, the son of State Senator Art Robinson, who represents District 2 but is barred from running for reelection because he was among the Republican senators who boycotted work in 2023. Late last week, Joncus told The Oregonian that his clients had dropped the part of their lawsuit that sought to remove Goodwin from her House seat representing District 4 over their residency allegations. Attorneys from the Oregon Department of Justice argued in court filings that Oregon's Secretary of State can't disqualify a sitting lawmaker.

Posted on 4/3/24 6:27AM by Sam Marsh

Chamber of Commerce Announces Lineup for 2024 Concerts in the Park Series in GP

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce is excited to host the 2024 "Concerts in the Park" series in Grants Pass this summer. Join the Chamber on Tuesday evenings for five weeks of free community concerts running from June 18th through July 23rd from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.. No concert is scheduled on July 2nd. Until completion of the permanent bandshell at Riverside Park, the Chamber will continue to host the concerts at the Josephine County Fairgrounds' Midway Park. This open grassy location offers shade trees, an abundance of parking, accessible facilities and optimal vendor space. The 2024 Concerts in the Park lineup includes Nashville recording artist Jessie Leigh on June 18th, the Salsa Brava Dance Band on June 25th, the Danielle Kelly Soul Project on July 9th, Trevor Hanks & The Blackburn Rebels on July 16th and the Rogue Suspects on July 23rd. Make a night of it by bringing the entire family for great music, delicious food and fun for all ages. This family-friendly event features local food trucks, kid activities, vendor booths and the Wild River Brewing Tap Trailer. For more information, call the Chamber at (541)-476-7717.

Posted on 4/3/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

Red Cross & Jackson County Fire District to Install Free Smoke Alarms in White City

Red Cross volunteers and members of Jackson County Fire District #3 will team up to install more than 300 free smoke detectors for local families vulnerable to home fires during a "Sound the Alarm" event this Saturday in White City. This effort is part of the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save at least 2,060 lives -- including 24 lives in the Cascades Region -- since launching in October 2014. The goal of the "Sound the Alarm" initiative is to install 50,000 free smoke alarms with partners in more than 50 at-risk communities across the country. Saturday's event starts at 9 a.m. with guest speakers at Jackson County Fire District #3 on Agate Road in White City. Smoke alarm installations in selected homes will continue until around 3:30 p.m.. Red Cross officials said this work is made possible by generous regional partners such as Tektronix, Mountain Home and Leatherman.

Posted on 4/3/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

Board to Hold Public Hearings on Five Adjustments to Josephine County Code

The Board of Commissioners will consider making several adjustments to the Josephine County Code during its weekly business session tomorrow morning. The Board will hold five public hearings -- four repealing chapters of the code pertaining to the Urban Area Planning Commission, Jackson-Josephine Region Board, Jefferson Behavioral Health and the Job Council, and one amending the Code related to the Solid Waste Agency. The first four ordinances will remove those advisory bodies from the Code because they no longer exist. The fifth ordinance officially renames the agency. Second readings and approvals of the ordinances are scheduled for April 17th. As usual, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Commissioners on just about any topic. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 4/2/24 11:41AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated White City Man for Wielding Machete at Tussing Park

Grants Pass Police jailed a Jackson County man for engaging in violent behavior while wielding a machete in a city park last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 36-year-old White City man for the incident at Tussing Park on Monday at 7:43 p.m.. Police said they were alerted to a male subject waving a machete in the park and causing public alarm. The suspect struck one man in the arm, causing a 3-4 inch laceration. The victim was uncooperative and refused medical attention. The suspect initially complied with emergency lights of the patrol vehicle for a moment before he chose to flee the scene. He did not comply with lawful orders to stop and led officers down West Park Street to the parking lot at Duo Gym where he refused to exit the Chevrolet Tahoe he was driving. It took the deployment of multiple bean bag rounds and a pepper ball to force him to surrender to police. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was called in to wash the non-lethal pepper off the suspect who was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation. He was then lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Attempt to Elude Police and Disorderly Conduct. The suspect's mother called to see if she could pick up the Tahoe, but said it would take her about 45 minutes to get to Grants Pass. The vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 4/2/24 11:18AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Sex Offender after Trespassing Call at Medart Lane Home

Grants Pass Police arrested an out-of-compliance sex offender yesterday after responding to a trespassing complaint at a home in the Redwood area. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to an incident in the 1700-block of Medart Lane on Monday around 11:20 a.m.. Police said the female occupant of the residence saw her 59-year-old father on the property with a ring camera and the man had been trespassed from his daughter's home in December. The woman's 14-year-old son was home alone and unaware his grandfather was outside. Officers arrived on scene and contacted the suspect who admitted to recalling the trespass warning, but said he needed to get some water. He was found to be out of compliance with his sex offender registration by three days. The suspect was placed into custody lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and Failure to Report as a Sex Offender. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/2/24 11:16AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Man Wanted for Jackson County Drug Crimes near Merlin

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man wanted for drug trafficking in Jackson County in the North Valley area yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 33-year-old male subject at a home in the 1200-block of Merlin Road on Monday at 1:53 p.m.. Deputies said they received a tip that the man was staying at the residence and it was known that he was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for allegations of Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of a Controlled Substance -- all at the felony level. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office confirmed the warrant, but requested the suspect be cited and then released from custody. He was ordered to appear in a Medford courtroom on May 1st.

Posted on 4/2/24 11:15AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Cited Truck Driver for Striking North GP Fire Hydrant and Driving Away

The Oregon State Police cited a truck driver for crashing into a fire hydrant and leaving the scene in north Grants Pass yesterday. According to OSP, troopers responded to an attempt to locate from the Grants Pass Police Department on Monday at 1:25 p.m.. Troopers said a Freightliner semi-truck driven by a 32-year-old California man struck a fire hydrant at the corner of 6th Street and Hillcrest Drive. They said the truck driver did not stop and he was eventually located on southbound Interstate 5 near the City of Rogue River. The truck driver was cited for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and then released. The incident occurred near Les Schwab Tire Center. The victim was identified as the City of Grants Pass. The semi was registered to Opportunity Truck Lines, Inc., of Citrus Heights, California.

Posted on 4/2/24 11:13AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Cited and Evicted Campers for Ordinance Violations in City Parks

Grants Pass Police issued several citations and evicted six campers for ordinance violations in city parks on Monday. At Lawnridge Park, police cited a man for Illegal Camping after he failed to remove his campsite after the 72-hour notice. He was trespassed for 30 days. At Kesterson Park, three people were cited for Illegal Camping after they failed to remove their campsites after 72-hour notices. None of them were trespassed. At Westholm Park, two women were cited for Illegal Camping and one of them was also cited for Unlawful Utilization of Park Space. Both were issued 30-day exclusions. Another woman was warned for theft of a shopping cart. At Morrison Centennial Park, one man was cited for Unlawful Conduct after he parked his vehicle on a sidewalk and another man was cited for Scattering Rubbish. Both were trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Fruitdale Park, a woman was cited for Blocking a Handicap Space and she was issued a 30-day exclusion.

Posted on 4/2/24 11:11AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Attacking Mother and Son with Baseball Bat at Motel 6

Grants Pass Police jailed a man last weekend for attacking two people with a baseball bat at a north-city motel. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 52-year-old male suspect at Motel 6 on NE 7th Street on Sunday around 3:20 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that she and her son were being attacked by a male friend wielding a small baseball bat. The baseball bat belonged to her son and he was able to wrestle it away from the attacker. The son was struck once with the bat, but he was not injured. He also kept his mother from being hurt. According to the report, the suspect fought with several subjects and subjected them to offensive physical contact during the incident. He was contacted inside his motel room and placed into custody after a slight non-compliance with commands. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on two counts each of Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Harassment. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/2/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man for Violating Court Order by Contacting Protected Person

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for violating a court order after he made contact with a protected individual in the Rogue River Highway area east of Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 62-year-old male suspect in the 300-block of Peckerwood Lane on Sunday at 2:52 p.m.. Deputies said a resident of the neighborhood called 9-1-1 to report that a trespasser knocked on their door and asked for a ride to the airport. When they refused, the man then started ranting at them and demanding that they take him to the airport. The man was said to be under the influence and he walked over the home of an elderly woman who had a valid stalking order against him. He reportedly started harassing everyone before he took off running toward the river. He eventually returned to his own nearby residence. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed the involved parties, verified the court order and then placed the man into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Stalking Order Violation and was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/2/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

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