KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

ODOT Contractor to Pay for Damage to Trailer Hit by Falling Tree on Freeway

An ODOT contractor will pay expenses to the owner of a commercial trailer that was damaged by a falling tree on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County. The Oregon State Police reports the mishap occurred in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 78 on Tuesday. Troopers said ODOT had contracted G & S Trucking to cut and remove trees in the freeway median at that location. They said a semi-truck pulling a soft-sided trailer was traveling in the slow lane when a tree that was cut by the contractor fell toward I-5 and struck the top of the trailer, damaging several metal braces. OSP identified the truck driver as 43-year-old Aimee Ruthe Harris, who was not hurt. She was able to drive the semi and trailer away after the accident. ODOT and G & S supervisors exchanged contact information, with the contractor to pay for damages to the trailer.

Posted on 2/15/24 5:51AM by Sam Marsh

Veterans Appreciation Lunch Set for Saturday at OSU Extension Office in GP

The Josephine County 4-H Association & 4-H Youth are presenting a Veterans Appreciation Luncheon in Grants Pass on Saturday. The special event is being held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the OSU Extension Auditorium, which is located at 215 Ringuette Street. The luncheon is free for veterans and $5 for guests. Veterans can enjoy a free lunch and explore resources available to them. Advance RSVP is required. Please call (541)-476-6613 or stop by the OSU Extension Office next to the Josephine County Fairgrounds.

Posted on 2/15/24 5:48AM by Sam Marsh

Commissioners Approved First Reading of Wildfire Ordinance and Referred Levy to Voters

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved the first reading of an ordinance that changes wildfire and emergency safety standards as they pertain to new dwellings. The Board voted unanimously to approve the first reading following a public hearing, and set the second reading and possible adoption for February 28th. The ordinance would amend the Rural Land Development Code to the minimum requirements under Oregon law. Assistant Legal Counsel Stephanie Nuttall said the amendment removes the fire coverage requirement for new building permits in Josephine County. She added that it does not prevent property owners from contracting with a private fire protection service or annexing into an existing fire protection district. The Oregon Department of Forestry charges a fee to protect properties in designated forest zones. Under Administrative Actions, the Board approved a resolution referring a five-year local option tax for the Animal Shelter and Animal Control to the May 21st ballot. Voters will decide whether to increase the current levy amount of 11 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value to 47 cents per thousand, with 27 cents going toward operations and 19 cents going toward physical improvements at the aging shelter. The physical improvement portion of the levy would end after a loan from Oregon Business Services is fully repaid.

Posted on 2/15/24 5:39AM by Sam Marsh

Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians Makes Large Donation for New GP Library

The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is supporting the future of the Josephine Community Library District with a very large grant award. Cow Creek Tribal Chairperson Carla Keene will visit the Grants Pass branch library next week to present a $250,000 contribution toward the construction of a new downtown library. The Cow Creek Band has committed to supporting the Grants Pass library building project with the $250,000 donation split into $50,000 payments over five years. Community members are invited to help celebrate next Monday from 10 a.m. to noon. Other local organizations receiving donations from the Cow Creek Band during the celebration include the Josephine County Children's Advocacy Center and GP Home Bridging. Last June, the Josephine Community Library Foundation purchased the block between 6th, 7th, J and K streets for a new library in downtown Grants Pass as part of its support of new and improved facilities for the community. The community raised $1,925,000 for the purchase from individual donors and other supporters including the Four Way Community Foundation, Echo Fund, Bennett Fund, Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon Cultural Trust and Avista Utility.

Posted on 2/15/24 5:37AM by Sam Marsh

Eagle Point PD Hosting Dunk-a-Cop Fundraiser for Special Olympic Athletes on Saturday

The third annual "Dunk-a-Cop" fundraiser for Special Olympics Oregon will be held this weekend in the North Medford Walmart parking lot. The event runs Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Walmart located at 3615 Crater Lake Highway. It's free and open to the public. Local law enforcement agencies from across the Rogue Valley will don their swim trunks for a great cause: to help Special Olympics Oregon athletes with intellectual disabilities. Every ball thrown brings police officers closer to a dunk in cold water. The Eagle Point Police Department's "Plunging Eagles" and Walmart are sponsors of this special fundraiser. The event is in preparation for the upcoming Southern Oregon Polar Plunge on March 2nd. EPPD will also be selling challenge coins for $15 and plunge patches for their team. EPPD Chief Jim Hamilton is the creator of this event, which was formerly held in Grants Pass. He said a donation of $5 will get participants one throw, $10 for two and $15 for three. A guaranteed dunk is a flat $25 donation.

Posted on 2/15/24 5:34AM by Sam Marsh

Board Approves 1st Reading of Wildfire Ordinance and Refers Levy to Voters

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning approved the first reading of an ordinance that changes wildfire and emergency safety standards as they pertain to new dwellings. The Board voted unanimously to approve the first reading following a public hearing, and set the second reading and possible adoption for February 28th. The ordinance would amend the Rural Land Development Code to the minimum requirements under Oregon law. Assistant Legal Counsel Stephanie Nuttall said the amendment removes the fire coverage requirement for new building permits in Josephine County. She added that it does not prevent property owners from contracting with a private fire protection service or annexing into an existing fire protection district. The Oregon Department of Forestry charges a fee to protect properties in designated forest zones. Under Administrative Actions, the Board approved a resolution referring a five-year local option tax for the Animal Shelter and Animal Control to the May 21st ballot. Voters will decide whether to increase the current levy amount of 11 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value to 47 cents per thousand, with 27 cents going toward operations and 19 cents going toward physical improvements at the aging shelter. The physical improvement portion of the levy would end after a loan from Oregon Business Services is fully repaid.

Posted on 2/14/24 12:21PM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed GP Area Man for Roughing Up Girlfriend at Home West of City

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Grants Pass area man for roughing up his girlfriend at a residence west of the city last night. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 64-year-old Richard Ray McDonald for the incident in the 200-block of Jasmine Drive off Lower River Road at about 10:40 p.m. Tuesday. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report she went to the home to visit her friend when she witnessed McDonald hitting the victim and placing his hand on her throat. The caller advised there was an ongoing issue with the suspect being abusive to the victim, and he was destroying things in the house while impaired by alcohol. He reportedly also made a comment about shooting the complainant. The caller and victim made it out of the home to call for help, arranging to meet with deputies at Lathrop Boat Landing. Deputies interviewed the women and went to the house where they placed the suspect into custody. Richard McDonald was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of Domestic Strangulation and Physical Harassment. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 2/14/24 12:20PM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Corrections Client for Falsifying Results of Drug Test

Grants Pass Police arrested a corrections client for violating his post-prison supervision by falsifying the results of a mandatory drug test early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 29-year-old Jackson Frank Potter at the Josephine County Community Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Tuesday at 8:45 a.m.. Police said Potter used someone else's urine in a hidden Visine bottle to provide a sample for his corrections officer. The officer caught him in the act, which is a direct violation of his supervision. Jackson Potter was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Falsifying Drug Test Results and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Potter has been arrested four times for Parole Violation since June 15th of last year.

Posted on 2/14/24 12:00PM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Causing Disturbance at SE Neighborhood Store

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing a disturbance at a southeast city convenience store yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to reports of a male subject causing public alarm at King's Market on SE N Street on Tuesday shortly after 3 p.m.. Police said an employee called 9-1-1 to report 46-year-old David Israel McDonald was yelling and swinging a baseball bat around, frightening customers. The caller said the suspect appeared to be under the influence of narcotics when he turned his attention to a sign at the store and starting smashing it with the bat. Officers arrived on scene, disarmed McDonald and placed him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and Possession of Methamphetamine. A shopping cart was returned to Grocery Outlet.

Posted on 2/14/24 11:59AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Young Man Twice on Tuesday for Separate Criminal Capers

Grants Pass Police arrested a young man twice yesterday for separate offenses at the hospital and a local supermarket. According to the Police Department, the first incident involving 20-year-old Jackson David Sutton occurred at Three Rivers Medical Center on Tuesday at about 9:30 a.m.. Police said Sutton got into an argument with hospital security after they found him in the second-story chapel next to the TRMC Family Birth Center. They said he had been previously trespassed from the hospital and refused to leave the premises. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Criminal Trespass. The second incident involving Sutton occurred on Tuesday at 8:35 p.m. after he was released from jail and walked over to WinCo Foods. He allegedly stole a small amount of food from the grocery and was detained by loss prevention. Sutton admitted to the theft and said he knew it was wrong to steal, but he did not have a way to pay for the items. He was charged with 3rd-Degree Theft and lodged back in jail -- this time, without bail.

Posted on 2/14/24 11:57AM by Sam Marsh

One Motorist Hurt and Another Cited after Interstate 5 Collision in North GP

One motorist was injured and another was cited early yesterday after a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 in north Grants Pass. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the collision in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 58 at 7:39 a.m. Tuesday. Troopers said an investigation indicates an Isuzu box truck driven by 34-year-old Clease Nathaniel Carlisle rear-ended a sedan driven by 69-year-old Deborah Kay Dodge at that location. Dodge stated that her vehicle was having mechanical issues and that she was attempting to safely +exit the freeway when she was rear-ended. According to OSP, Carlisle stated that he saw the car traveling slowly and did not have time to avoid the crash. He was not hurt, but Dodge was taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center after she complained of neck pain. Carlisle was cited for Driving While Suspended, Following Too Closely and Failure to Carry Proof of Financial Responsibility. The box truck was impounded.

Posted on 2/14/24 11:56AM by Sam Marsh

GP Area Woman Jailed for Attacking & Hurting Husband at North Valley Home

A Grants Pass area woman was jailed for attacking and injuring her husband in the North Valley area. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident at a home in the 7500-block of Monument Drive on Monday. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that 24-year-old Emily Nicole Karen Denney hit her husband in the head with a blow torch, leaving him with a small cut above his eyes. The caller -- who identified herself as the victim's sister-in-law -- said the suspect left and went to a nearby home. Upon further investigation, deputies concluded that Denney struck her husband in the head with a propane cylinder, causing a 2/3-inch laceration which appeared to need stitches. The victim complained of blurred vision, but refused attention from American Medical Response. He said he would go to the hospital for evaluation. According to the report, Denney was contacted and admitted to striking her spouse with the propane tank. Emily Denney was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 2nd-Degree Domestic Assault and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 2/14/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

Local News