KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Grants Pass Police Snared 2 Men for Smoking Meth near Boys & Girls Club

Grants Pass Police arrested two men for doing drugs near the Boys & Girls Club late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at the club on SE 9th Street on Wednesday around 5 p.m.. Police said a nearby resident reported seeing three men doing drugs behind a Ford Focus that was parked at that location. Two of the men were identified as "Michael Goodwin" and "Roman Kuznestov." The third left before officers arrived on scene. Goodwin and Kuznestov admitted to smoking methamphetamine. They were not impaired and handed officers their glass pipes. Both men were cited to appear in court and advised to move out of the area.

Posted on 2/22/24 10:57AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Camper for Committing Ordinance Violations at City Park

Grants Pass Police evicted a camper for committing ordinance violations at a city park early yesterday. Officers contacted a woman they identified as "Cathena Hills" at Baker Park on Wednesday shortly after 10 a.m.. Hills was cited for Illegal Camping after she failed to remove her previously posted campsite. She was also cited for Misuse of Park Open Spaces and was issued a 30-day exclusion order. A total of 16 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping at Baker Park. An e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network (UCAN).

Posted on 2/22/24 10:55AM by Sam Marsh

City Council Okays Outpatient Clinic & Emergency Lodging Permit on RR Hwy.

The Grants Pass City Council approved a special use permit for OnTrack, Inc., to operate an emergency lodging and outpatient clinic facility at 688 and 690 Rogue River Highway. OnTrack secured Measure 110 funding to operate the six-bed emergency facility for pregnant IV-drug abusers and 10-bed emergency lodging for those wait-listed for residential treatment. The City Council also approved an ordinance to extend 362 lineal feet of water main on Shady Lane north to Molly Lane, and 345 of lineal feet of water main on Molly Lane to the end of the street. The Council approved an ordinance to the municipal code on a split vote, adding a chapter to regulate humanitarian service events on publicly-owned property. The ordinance creates a registration process for individuals, non-profits and other charitable organizations to operate in City parks and public places that normally prohibit individuals or organizations of the dissemination of drug paraphernalia and compressed combustible materials. Because the vote was not unanimous, a second reading will be voted on at the Council's next meeting. Wednesday night's business meeting began with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Historic Preservation presented to Historical Buildings & Sites Commission Chairman Ward Warren and a Lifesaving Award to Firefighter Manny Sharp.

Posted on 2/22/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

Rogue River City Council Meeting Features Several Action Items This Evening

The Rogue River City Council meeting tonight features a variety of action items. Following Committee Reports and Public Input, the City Council will start with New Business that includes a contract for Municipal Audit Services and a Park Sign Request from the Rogue River Garden Club. In other business, the Council is expected to approve the annual agreement with the Rogue River Kiwanis Club to conduct the National Rooster Crowing Contest in late June. The panel is also slated to approve Mayor Pam VanArsdale's Committee Appointments and Council Assignments. The City Council will consider an ordinance granting Avista Utilities a franchise agreement for transmission, distribution and sale of natural gas to customers in Rogue River. There's also a resolution amending committee rules to remove the Personnel Committee as administrative staff now deals with personnel issues. Tonight's meeting begins at 6 at Rogue River City Hall, 133 Broadway Street.

Posted on 2/22/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Man for Assaulting Woman with Knife at Plumtree Lane Home

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for assaulting a woman with a knife at a home in the North Valley area this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a disturbance in the 800-block of Plumtree Lane late Tuesday afternoon. Deputies said an investigation determined that 69-year-old Brannon Keith Crotts stabbed a 67-year-old woman in the wrist with a knife. The victim called 9-1-1 to report the crime as she was holding pressure on the wound. She was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment. Both Crotts and the victim were interviewed, with recorded statements taken from both parties along with an unidentified witness. Brannon Crotts was arrested for 4th-Degree Assault. For unknown reasons, he was cited to appear in court and released instead of being lodged in jail. The knife was seized as evidence.

Posted on 2/22/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Looking for Woman Who Fled Scene of Traffic Stop on Riverbanks Road

The Oregon State Police was looking for a woman who fled the scene of a traffic stop on Riverbanks Road this week. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Mitsubishi Outback driven by a woman whom they identified as 23-year-old Annie Emmeline Dunn near milepost 20 of State Route 260 on Tuesday night. Troopers did not give the reason for the traffic stop, but said Dunn stopped and then fled in her vehicle and no pursuit was initiated. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Annie Dunn is encouraged to dial *OSP.

Posted on 2/22/24 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed New Jersey Man for DUII after Stopping Him for Speeding

Grants Pass Police arrested a New Jersey man for impaired driving after he was caught speeding in the downtown area early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers pulled over an Audi sedan driven by 28-year-old Giovanni Alberto Arroyave in the 800-block of NE F Street at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police said Arroyave passed an unmarked patrol vehicle while traveling around 50 miles per hour in a 35 mile-per-hour speed zone. They said he exhibited several indicators of impairment and admitted to alcohol consumption. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was placed into custody. Arroyave refused to provide a breath sample, so a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw documenting his impairment. Giovanni Arroyave was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. His rented vehicle was returned to the rental agency lot.

Posted on 2/22/24 6:03AM by Sam Marsh

Sunny Valley Resident Found Lost Wallet and Turned it in to State Troopers

A Sunny Valley resident turned in a lost wallet that was found this week at an Interstate 5 interchange. The Oregon State Police reports troopers were on a traffic stop on I-5 in Sunny Valley on Tuesday when a pedestrian flagged them down and turned in a wallet they found. Troopers said the lost wallet belonging to a 29-year-old San Jose, California, man was found in ditch near the I-5 interchange at milepost 71. They said the wallet contained identification and credit cards. According to OSP, troopers called two potential phone numbers in order to contact the man -- but neither phone number was good. The wallet and its contents were entered into safekeeping at the Grants Pass office of OSP.

Posted on 2/22/24 6:02AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass City Council Favors Public Safety Utility Fee Over 3% Food & Beverage Tax

The Grants Pass City Council last night said "no" to a 3% food and beverage tax in favor of a $12 utility fee to fund public safety services until the restaurant tax can be put to a public vote in November. Following a lengthy discussion regarding the amount of the fee, the City Council finally decided on $12 per month for a single-family residence. The vote was a 4-to-4 tie, with Mayor Sara Bristol casting the deciding "yes" vote. The $12 fee expanded to the average small business will be over $36 monthly. It is designed to sustain public safety at current levels, but will add no new hires in the police and fire departments. Public testimony was overwhelmingly against the food and beverage tax that would be dedicated exclusively to public safety services. Councilors voted against the tax by a 5-3 margin. The City Council then voted 7-1 to place the 3% food and beverage tax before Grants Pass voters in the November election. All prepared foods and beverages -- excluding alcohol -- would be subject to the tax. Bakery goods that are to be consumed off premises are exempt. Operators are to collect the tax and remit the proceeds quarterly to the city. Should the payment be late, the operator could be subject to a 10% penalty plus the tax itself.

Posted on 2/22/24 5:58AM by Sam Marsh

Commission Delays Decision on Hiring Former Board Member Hare as Broadband Coordinator

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners tabled both Administrative Action items at its weekly business meeting on Wednesday. The Board voted 2-0 to continue until next week consideration of the personal services contract with former Commissioner Simon Hare to facilitate regional broadband project coordination. Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger was absent. Commissioner Dan DeYoung requested the delay because he wants to speak with Hare in more detail about the contract. He said he had only received a copy of the contract on Tuesday and believes Baertschiger should be present for the decision. In its current form, the contract calls for Hare to serve as the liaison between the Board of Commissioners and the Josephine County Broadband Action Team as well as others. The goal is to extend broadband internet service to the more rural and underserved areas of the county. Hare would be paid $1,600 a month. The Board also tabled an intergovernmental agreement with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments for grant-writing services. It was unclear why the pact was delayed or for how long.

Posted on 2/22/24 5:53AM by Sam Marsh

2024 Josephine County Fair Features Sawyer Brown, The Cadillac Three & Other Entertainers

The 2024 Josephine County Fair will "rock" some great entertainment this summer in Grants Pass. The Fair Board is pleased to announce the music headliners for the event, which runs from August 7th-11th. The theme is "Rockin' The Decades." The biggest show will be country music band Sawyer Brown, which is set for Thursday, August 8th, at the Grandstand. An 80s show called "Ikons of Rock" will be at the Grandstand on Friday, August 9th, and on Saturday, August 10th, it's The Cadillac Three -- an American rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The Grandstand shows are ticketed events, with general admission at $20 and VIP at $30 each. Remember, admission to the Josephine County Fair is free. The Fairground Pavilion Stage also has a great entertainment lineup with the Eagles tribute band "Eagle Eyes" on Wednesday, Taylor Swift tribute band "Red" on Saturday and country artist Frank Ray on Sunday. These are concerts are free. For more details about the Fair, please visit "josephinecountyfairgrounds.com."

Posted on 2/22/24 5:51AM by Sam Marsh

BCC Delays Decision on Hiring Former Commissioner as Broadband Coordinator

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners tabled both Administrative Action items at its weekly business meeting this morning. The Board voted 2-0 to continue until next week consideration of the personal services contract with former Commissioner Simon Hare to facilitate regional broadband project coordination. Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger was absent. Commissioner Dan DeYoung requested the delay because he wants to speak with Hare in more detail about the contract. He said he had only received a copy of the contract on Tuesday and believes Baertschiger should be present for the decision. In its current form, the contract calls for Hare to serve as the liaison between the Board of Commissioners and the Josephine County Broadband Action Team as well as others. The goal is to extend broadband internet service to the more rural and underserved areas of the county. Hare would be paid $1,600 a month. The Board also tabled an intergovernmental agreement with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments for grant-writing services. It was unclear why the pact was delayed or for how long.

Posted on 2/21/24 11:13AM by Sam Marsh

Local News