Local News

Detectives Arrest White City Sexual Abuse Suspect and Seek Additional Victims
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Following a month-long investigation, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) has arrested a 20-year-old Medford man for multiple counts of sex abuse of an underage victim. According to the Sheriff's Office, detectives arrested 20-year-old Brayden Cyrus Edelman on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in Medford. He was charged with one count of 1st-Degree Sex Abuse and two counts 2nd-Degree Sex Abuse before being lodged at the Jackson County Jail. Jackson County Public Information Officer Aaron Lewis said the investigation into Edelman started in mid-May. Although Edelman lives in Medford, he said the crimes occurred in White City. SVU detectives believe Edelman may have other victims who have yet to come forward. They said the case remains under investigation and it will be prosecuted by the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. Anyone with information on Brayden Edelman is asked to call SVU Detective Jill Wenzel at (541)-770-8928.
Posted on 6/20/24 6:44AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Snared Man for Violating Court Order by Returning to Mom's Home
For the second time this week, Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order by returning to his estranged mother's residence. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 1400-block of SW Bridge Street on Wednesday shortly after 3 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her son came back to her home, was inside the house and he was not supposed to be there. The caller stated that "one of the kids" may have let her son inside, but he walked out the front door and left on foot. According to the report, the 34-year-old man had been arrested for violating a restraining order at the residence on Monday afternoon. The order clearly states that he is not allowed to enter or remain on the premises. Responding officers observed the man on the property and placed him into custody in the backyard -- the same place he was arrested on Monday. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 6/20/24 6:43AM by Sam Marsh
 

Grants Pass Roofing Company Fined $86K by OSHA for Job Safety Violations
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHA) has fined a Grants Pass roofing company more than $86,000 for workplace safety violations such as repeatedly failing to safeguard workers from fall hazards. OSHA cited GB Roofing, LLC, following an inspection of a job site in Eugene where work was being done to replace the roof on a retirement home. The check was conducted under OSHA's prevention-based emphasis program addressing workers exposed to fall hazards that could seriously injure or kill them. According to the inspection, employees were working on the roof without fall protection. They were exposed to a potential fall of about 20 feet to the ground. The company had violated a rule requiring employers to ensure that fall protection systems are provided, installed and implemented where employees are exposed to a hazard of falling six feet or more to a lower level. It was the third time since May 2022 that GB Roofing violated fall protection requirements. GB Roofing was also cited for failing to provide eye protection to employees who were exposed to flying particles from the use of pneumatic staplers. It was a serious violation carrying a penalty of $1,153. During the inspection, the company corrected the violations identified by Oregon OSHA.
Posted on 6/20/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh
 

May 2024 Showed 1.5% Annual Increase in Number of Calls for GP Fire & Rescue
May was a busy month for Grants Pass Fire & Rescue. With its normal fare of emergency medical service, motor vehicle accidents and fires, the agency saw a 1.5% increase of activity in May of this year compared to May 2023. According to information provided by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, Grants Pass firefighters and paramedics responded to 27 motor vehicle accidents, 16 fires and 10 drug overdoses last month. There was a total of 461 calls answered by Grants Pass & Rescue in May. They also included 149 for emergency medical service, 73 for lift assists, 30 for assists to the public, 29 for rescue situations and six for assists to other agencies. Events of note last month included the Wildland Readiness Exercise in Merlin where over 50 firefighters participated in wildland fire drills over three days. There was a three-alarm fire in Josephine County that required a recall of off-duty crews. During Boatnik, firefighters staffed as fireworks standby, bicycle medic teams and parade operations. The total number of calls for service through May of this year was 2,114.
Posted on 6/20/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh
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City of Grants Pass Housing Opportunity Funds Available Until Friday Afternoon
The City of Grants Pass is still soliciting applications for new construction of residential housing developments that will serve qualified low- and moderate-income households -- but time is running out. The City has more than $479,000 from the Housing Opportunity Fund to distribute to qualified projects. The deadline to apply for these funds is this Friday 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 for rental housing or 100% of the Area Median Income 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 submitted under this Notice of Funding Availability. In 2021, the City of Grants Pass adopted the Affordable Housing Construction Excise Tax, which is the funding source of the Housing Opportunity Fund. The overall purpose of the tax -- per Senate Bill 1533 in 2016 -- and its accompanying rules is to help local jurisdictions address their communities' housing needs.
Posted on 6/20/24 6:32AM by Sam Marsh
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GP City Council Awards Affordable Housing Grants and Approves "Hope Home" Permit
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The Grants Pass City Council awarded significant grant funding aimed at adding affordable housing to the City during its regular meeting last night. The City Council first approved an ordinance vacating the property line of two lots at 165 SW Jefferson Road and SW G Street. Both lots are the property of a single owner who wishes to build a single dwelling home with detached garage. The Council then approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a special use permit allowing Grace Roots, a local nonprofit, to operate a support housing unit at 336 NE C Street. The unit would be referred to as Hope Home and would support pregnant individuals with substance use disorders. A full range of services would be provided along with sanitation concerns and security. An affordable housing grant of $747,500 from the American Rescue Plan Act was approved for the creation of water and sewer connections at the Fruitdale Townhomes and Cottage Development of up to 20 owner-occupied affordable homes at 1907 Fruitdale Drive. Home Bridging will sell the homes to families at or below 120% of area's median income. A $749,000 grant for Home Bridging was also approved for public infrastructure at 235 NW Scenic Drive by the Urban Renewal Agency. Doug Bradley, Sue Densmore, Susan Slocum and Constance Palaia were appointed to the Tourism Advisory Committee.
Posted on 6/20/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Reminds City Property Owners of Vegetation Maintenance Requirements
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Now that spring is nearly over and shrubs and trees have leafed out, Grants Pass officials want to remind residents of the city's requirements for maintaining their vegetation in the public right-of-way. Summer officially begins today at 1:50 p.m.. Grants Pass City Code requires property owners to maintain vegetation in the public right-of-way along their properties. The right-of-way include sidewalks, planting strips, curbs and gutters adjacent to city streets. Trees and shrubs alongside city streets must allow the safe passage of motor vehicles and may not limit the visibility of drivers. Low-hanging tree branches must be trimmed to a minimum of 15 feet above roadway surfaces. At corners, shrubbery must be trimmed to a maximum height of 30 inches for a distance of 20 feet from an intersection. Weeds growing in cracks or seams of sidewalks are trip hazards and must be removed. Low-hanging tree branches must be trimmed to a minimum of 8 feet above the sidewalk. Shrubs and trees must be trimmed back so they do not encroach on sidewalks. Vegetation hanging over the curb or growing in the gutter interferes with drainage and street sweeping and must be removed. Shrubs should be trimmed back at least 6 inches from the curb. If you have any questions, please call the City of Grants Pass Streets Division at (541)-450-6110.
Posted on 6/20/24 6:19AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Library Branch Hosting Author Talk and Book-Signing with "Zoro the Drummer"
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Citizens are invited to meet author and globally respected musician Danny Donnelly -- also known as "Zoro the Drummer" -- for a discussion featuring his memoir, Maria's Scarf, on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Grants Pass branch of Josephine Community Library. Afterward, community members can visit Oregon Books & Games at 150 NE E Street in Grants Pass for a personal book-signing event. Maria's Scarf is the incredible story of a mother's love, a family's unbreakable bond and a starry-eyed boy who never lost sight of his dreams. As the fatherless child of a Mexican immigrant, Danny Donnelly was never expected to amount to much. Before the age of 9, his single mother had moved her seven children more than 30 times -- from the impoverished streets of south central Los Angeles to Southern Oregon. Through it all, Danny transformed himself into Zoro, one of the world's greatest drummers. Participants will hear excerpts from the book and learn about Zoro's upbringing -- including his time living in Grants Pass as a child in the 1970s and 1980s that led to a remarkable career as a drummer for many Grammy Award-winning musicians.
Posted on 6/20/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Council Deals with Affordable Housing & Approves Hope Home
Grants Pass City Council dealt with significant grants aimed at adding affordable housing to the City. The Council first approved an ordinance vacating the property line of two lots at 165 Southwest Jefferson Road and Southwest “G” Street. Both lots are the property of a single owner that wishes to build a single dwelling home with detached garage. Without the vacation minimum setbacks could not be achieved. The Council then approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to approve a special use permit allowing Grace Roots, a local non-profit, to operate a support housing unit at 336 Northeast “C” Street. The unit would be referred to as Hope Home and would support pregnant individuals with substance use disorders. A full range of services would be provided along with sanitation concerns and security. A resolution supplementing the fiscal year ‘24’ budget modifying the currently adopted budget to create changes in the city’s various funds. Very little financial impact is affected, basically correcting and adjusting the final budget with no additional funds expended, just accounted for differently. An affordable housing grant of $747,500 from the American Rescue Plan Act funds was approved for the creation of water and sewer connections for the Fruitdale Townhomes and Cottage Development of up to 20 owner occupied affordable homes at 1907 Fruitdale Drive. Home Bridging will sell the homes to families at or below 120% of area median income. A $749,000 grant for Home Bridging was also approved for public infrastructure at 235 Northwest Scenic Drive by the Urban Renewal Agency.The Grants Pass City Council, acting as the Urban Renewal Agency, conducted a required public hearing reviewing the 2025 fiscal year budget for the Agency. The budget was then approved on a 7 to 1 vote with Councilor DeLaGrange dissenting.
Posted on 6/19/24 9:04PM by Chuck Benson
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GP Council Adjusts Public Comment Rules
The rules to address the Grants Pass City Council during Business Sessions was changed Wednesday night by a unanimous vote. The primary change is reducing the amount of time citizens may speak during public comment is reduced from three minutes to two minutes. Current rules in effect now include citizens must submit a public comment card prior to the public comment section of the meeting. The cards are available at the city’s administration office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cards will be received up to the comment section. The Council may ask two questions during Public comment with citizens given one minute to respond. The P:ublic Comment period will be limited to no more then 30 minutes. In special circumstances Council has the discretion to expand the period.
Posted on 6/19/24 8:01PM by Chuck Benson
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City of GP Reminds Property Owners of Vegetation Maintenance Requirements
Now that spring is nearly over and shrubs and trees have leafed out, Grants Pass officials want to remind residents of the city's requirements for maintaining their vegetation in the public right-of-way. Summer officially begins at 1:50 p.m. tomorrow. Grants Pass City Code requires property owners to maintain vegetation in the public right-of-way along their properties. The right-of-way include sidewalks, planting strips, curbs and gutters adjacent to city streets. Trees and shrubs alongside city streets must allow the safe passage of motor vehicles and may not limit the visibility of drivers. Low-hanging tree branches must be trimmed to a minimum of 15 feet above roadway surfaces. At corners, shrubbery must be trimmed to a maximum height of 30 inches for a distance of 20 feet from an intersection. Weeds growing in cracks or seams of sidewalks are trip hazards and must be removed. Low-hanging tree branches must be trimmed to a minimum of 8 feet above the sidewalk. Shrubs and trees must be trimmed back so they do not encroach on sidewalks. Vegetation hanging over the curb or growing in the gutter interferes with drainage and street sweeping and must be removed. Shrubs should be trimmed back at least 6 inches from the curb.
Posted on 6/19/24 11:06AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Man for Violating Court Order by Visiting Mother's Residence
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order this week by visiting the home of his estranged mother. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 1400-block of SW Bridge Street on Monday afternoon. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her son came to her house despite the fact that she had a valid restraining order prohibiting him from doing so. She locked herself inside the home, stating that he appeared to be under the influence of drugs and is known to take methamphetamine. She said he would not leave. Officers arrived on scene and found the 34-year-old man in the backyard of the residence. They said the restraining order clearly states he is not allowed to enter or remain on the premises. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 6/19/24 11:02AM by Sam Marsh
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