KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Remember to Change Clocks & Check Smoke Alarms for Daylight Saving Time

Authorities are reminding residents that it's nearly time to "spring" forward to Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time officially begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, but most people will want to move their clocks ahead one hour before they go to bed tonight. Fire officials say this is a good time to test your smoke alarms and change their replaceable batteries, if necessary. Properly functioning smoke alarms save lives. Remember to change your clocks and check your smoke alarms tonight so you can "spring" forward safely.

Posted on 3/9/24 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

Park Service Announces New Concessionaire to Replace Aramark at Crater Lake National

The Oregonian is reporting that a new company is looking to run operations in Crater Lake National Park. Park officials announced this week that ExplorUS, a Kansas-based hospitality company, intends to take over the concessions contract at Crater Lake, which is currently held by Crater Lake Hospitality, a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Aramark. Aramark faces a litany of serious accusations around its management of the park since 2018, including unsafe housing conditions, environmental hazards and public health code violations. In February, the National Park Service announced its intention to terminate the contract, which was set to end in 2030. Now, it appears that Aramark plans to transfer its contract to ExplorUS, instead of the National Park Service awarding a new, temporary contract to a company of its choosing. ExplorUS said in a news release that the company has signed a "definitive letter of intent" to take over the contract from Aramark's subsidiary, but offered no other information about the deal. CEO Frank Pikus said the company is "committed to working with the National Park Service to enhance and protect the visitor experience." Scott Clemans, a regional spokesperson for the National Park Service, indicated the arrangement would spell the end of Aramark's tenure at the Oregon landmark.

Posted on 3/9/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

Pacific Aviation NW Receives $500K Grant from FAA to Expand Flight and Drone Instruction

Pacific Aviation Northwest, Inc., has been awarded a $500,000 grant to expand its flight/drone instruction in both the Grants Pass and Medford locations. The Federal Aviation Administration Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development grant will allow Pacific Aviation Northwest to support the education of future pilots and the development of the pilot workforce by preparing high school students to fill the industry's demand for pilots and unmanned aircraft systems operators. With this grant, PANW will be able to provide students with the most up-to-date technology while they obtain their private pilot license and up to their commercial multi-engine license. Students' learning will be improved with the addition of flight simulators to provide practical, real-world experience beyond the confines of an actual aircraft. New electronic devices will allow students to incorporate state-of-the-art technology into their learning. Cutting-edge avionic equipment upgrades in trainer aircraft will give students hands-on experience. Pacific Aviation Northwest was founded in 2004 by David and Bradley Traeger. It's the Grants Pass Airport's Fixed Base Operator.

Posted on 3/9/24 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

Local Companies Make Good Showing in "Top 100 Best Places to Work in Oregon" Awards

When the "Top 100 Best Companies in Oregon" awards were announced this week by Oregon Business, the south part of the state made quite a showing. In the "Top 100 Best Places to Work," 15 local companies made the list and nearly all of them are members of Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc, (SOREDI). Adroit Construction, Rogue Credit Union and Purelight Power were listed among the state's large companies. Star Body Works, KDP, Avista, Work Sharp, Metal Masters and S & B James Construction were listed among the state's medium companies. RHT Energy, Jackson County Physical Therapy, ZCS Engineering, WBCP, Rentec Direct and Tekmanagement were listed among the state's small companies. The list is drawn from survey results that measure employee opinion on 20 workplace practices. Employees rate their satisfaction with their company, which makes up 71% of the scoring.

Posted on 3/9/24 6:06AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Woman for Multiple Crimes after Downtown DUII Crash

Grants Pass jailed a woman for multiple crimes last night after she crashed into another vehicle in the downtown area and fled the scene on foot. The Police Department reports officers arrested 29-year-old Theresa Lakota Collins on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. for the incident that occurred at the intersection of SW 6th and M streets about 30 minutes earlier. Police said Collins was driving a Toyota Camry when she rear-ended a Volvo driven by another female motorist that was stopped at a red light. They said the woman initially stopped and provided her name, her fiance's name and address before she fled on foot down M Street. No one was injured. Following an investigation, police located Collins at a residence in the 1400-block of Florence Lane. She was determined to driving with a suspended license and she displayed signs of impairment by alcohol. A search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. Theresa Collins was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Felony Driving While Suspended, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. She was being held without bail and her fiance was advised of the location of his car.

Posted on 3/8/24 11:30AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Stealing Large Package of Meat from Safeway

Grants Pass Police arrested a man yesterday for stealing a large package of meat from a downtown supermarket. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a theft complaint at Safeway on SE 7th Street on Thursday around 11:25 a.m.. Police said an investigation determined that 25-year-old Terrance Anthony Adair grabbed a large package of meat worth about $88 from the store and ran away from the business. The suspect was last seen heading westbound on the railroad tracks. Officers eventually tracked down Adair at Baker Park and found him to be in possession of the stolen meat. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 3rd-Degree Theft. He was also trespassed from the downtown Safeway.

Posted on 3/8/24 11:29AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Trying to Steal Suspenders from Grange Co-op

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for trying to steal a clothing item from Grange Co-op yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting call at the store on West Schutzwohl Lane near Redwood Highway at 10:10 a.m. Thursday. Police said 42-year-old Robert Steven Clair selected some suspenders valued at $30 and concealed them in the pocket of the hoodie he was wearing. They said he selected other items he paid for, but went past all points of sale without paying for the suspenders and was detained by loss prevention. Store workers said Clair was combative and they were on the floor fighting with him, but the charges did not reflect a struggle. Clair was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft. He was also trespassed from Grange Co-op.

Posted on 3/8/24 11:28AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested 2 People for Trying to Steal Merchandise from Walmart

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for trying to steal merchandise from Walmart late yesterday. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred on Thursday at about 5:40 p.m. when officers responded to a shoplifting complaint involving a woman identified as "Star Tibbett" at the store on NE Terry Lane. Police said Tibbett selected around $20 worth of grocery items at Walmart and was detained by loss prevention as she was loading up her Chevrolet Tahoe. She was charged with 3rd-Degree Theft, was cited to appear in court and then released. The second incident happened on Thursday at 10:38 p.m. when officers were alerted to a Walmart shoplifting call involving 31-year-old Tyler Cervantes. Police said Cervantes took an ear wax cleaner valued at $38 from the store before he was detained by loss prevention. He was cited to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft and released.

Posted on 3/8/24 11:26AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed GP Man on Local Bench Warrant after Downtown Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man on an outstanding warrant during a traffic stop in the downtown area yesterday. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Alexander Joshua Reed near the corner of 6th and A streets at 1:28 p.m. Thursday. Troopers said they stopped Reed for traffic violations and discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County bench warrant for failing to appear in court. The alleged offense from the original arrest was not disclosed by OSP. Alexander Reed was cited and released on the local warrant. He was also issued citations for the traffic violations.

Posted on 3/8/24 11:25AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Two Campers from Two City Parks in Thursday Patrols

Grants Pass Police evicted two campers from two city parks during Thursday patrol checks. At Baker Park, Michelle Richardson was cited for Illegal Camping after she failed to remove her previously posted campsite. During a consent search, she was found to be in possession of a pipe with methamphetamine residue. She was also cited for the narcotics violation and was trespassed from the park for an additional 30 days. Also at Baker Park, a total of 19 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network (UCAN). At Riverside Park, Russell Thompson was cited for Illegal Camping after he failed to remove his previously posted campsite. He was issued a 30-day exclusion. Also at Riverside Park, a total of 18 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN.

Posted on 3/8/24 11:24AM by Sam Marsh

Illinois Valley Fire District Battled Recreational Vehicle Fire in Selma Area

The Illinois Valley Fire District battled a recreational vehicle fire in the Selma area last night. On Thursday at about 7:30 p.m., IVFD crews were dispatched to the large vehicle fire at an unspecified location near Selma. IVFD officials said the RV fire was quickly extinguished and units cleared the scene. There were no injuries reported and no damage estimate was available. Officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Posted on 3/8/24 11:22AM by Sam Marsh

Illinois Valley Fire District Reports Fatal Plane Crash Occurred Thursday near CJ

The Illinois Valley Fire District is reporting that a fatal plane crash occurred yesterday near Cave Junction. On Thursday at 11:25 a.m., IVFD, American Medical Response, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Police responded to the reported plane crash at or near the Illinois Valley Airport. IV Airport personnel also responded. IVFD Chief John Holmes said arriving units found an ultralight aircraft that had crashed into the ground and there was one fatality. Holmes did not provide any other information on the incident yesterday including the identity of the deceased pilot. The Sheriff's Office along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was conducting the investigation.

Posted on 3/8/24 6:47AM by Sam Marsh

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