KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Board of Commissioners to Hold 5 Public Hearings at Weekly Business Session

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.

Posted on 5/1/24 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

City of Grants Pass Soliciting Applications for New Construction of Residential Housing

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.

Posted on 5/1/24 6:02AM by Sam Marsh

Applications Open for Four Positions on Collaborative Economic Development Panel

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.

Posted on 5/1/24 5:59AM by Sam Marsh

Preserving Oregon Grants Now Available for Historic Properties and Other Projects

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."

Posted on 5/1/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh

Board of Commissioners to Hold 5 Public Hearings at Weekly Business Session

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.

Posted on 4/30/24 1:18PM by Sam Marsh

RADE Jailed CJ Man on Felony Warrant for Josephine County Drug Trafficking

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.

Posted on 4/30/24 11:32AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Violating Restraining Order Protecting Family Member

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.

Posted on 4/30/24 11:30AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man on Local Warrant While Sleeping at City Park Entrance

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.

Posted on 4/30/24 11:29AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested GP Woman on Warrant and Cited Husband for Traffic Violations

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass woman on an outstanding warrant and cited her husband during a traffic stop on the east side of the city yesterday. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Ford F-150 pickup driven by the 52-year-old man on the Grants Pass Parkway near NE Agness Avenue at 12:17 p.m. Monday. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for traffic violations and discovered that the man's 49-year-old wife was wanted on a local warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. The wife was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrant while her husband was cited for Driving While Suspended and warned for other moving violations.

Posted on 4/30/24 11:27AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Motorist for Impaired Driving after Williams Highway Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving late last night following a traffic stop on Williams Highway in south Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford F-150 driven by a 51-year-old man near the intersection of Highway 238 and New Hope Road at 11:46 p.m. Monday. Troopers said they stopped the pickup for speeding and the driver showed signs of impairment. They said he consented to field sobriety tests, but refused to cooperate with the testing. He was placed into custody and transported to the Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was well over twice the legal driving limit. The suspect was issued citations for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded.

Posted on 4/30/24 11:26AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Troopers Arrested Motorist for Extreme Speeding on Interstate 5 near Hugo

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for extreme speeding on Interstate 5 in the Hugo area yesterday. 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 at 3:22 p.m.. 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.

Posted on 4/30/24 11:24AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted 11 Campers for Ordinance Violations during City Park Patrols

Grants Pass Police evicted a total of 11 campers for alleged ordinance violations in city parks on Monday. At Fruitdale Park, a woman was cited for Misuse of Open Space while a man was cited for Illegal Camping and Staking a Tent. Both were trespassed from the park for 30 days. An unattended and inoperable vehicle was towed from the park. At Baker Park, two men were found to be in possession of fentanyl and were cited. A man was cited for Illegal Camping and Misuse of Open Space. A woman was cited for Misuse of Park Space and Scattering Rubbish. All four were issued 30-day exclusions. At Tussing Park, a man was cited for Misuse of Open Space and Staking a Tent. He was trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Westholm Park, a man and woman were cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Scattering Rubbish. Both were issued 30-day exclusions. At Riverside Park, three people were cited for Illegal Camping after they failed to remove their previously posted campsites. Two of them were trespassed for 30 days.

Posted on 4/30/24 11:23AM by Sam Marsh

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