KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

GP Teenager Arrested for Felony Assault & DUII after Williams Highway Crash

A Grants Pass teenager was arrested for felony assault and impaired driving after he crashed into another vehicle on Williams Highway near Murphy. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle collision at milepost 5 of Highway 238 near Glenwood Street on Saturday at 2:14 p.m.. Troopers said witness statements and evidence at the scene indicated the 18-year-old boy was driving a Dodge Dakota when he rear-ended a Ford Ranger driven by a 68-year-old Murphy man who was slowing to turn into a driveway. According to OSP, the driver of the Ford was immediately transported to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Dodge showed indicators of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests, so he was placed into custody and taken to the hospital for a legal blood draw. Following the investigation, the young motorist was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and 3rd-Degree Assault. He sustained minor injuries in the crash and was released to the care of hospital staff. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage from the collision and were towed away.

Posted on 5/6/24 11:13AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Three Motorists for DUII Over the Weekend in Josephine County

The Oregon State Police arrested three other motorist for impaired driving in Josephine County over the weekend. According to OSP, state troopers pulled over a Ford F-250 driven by a 35-year-old Grants Pass man near the intersection of Allen Creek and West Harbeck roads on Friday at 9:37 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the pickup for a traffic violation and the driver appeared to be impaired. After performing poorly in sobriety tests, he was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample exceeding the legal driving limit. The second incident occurred on Sunday at 12:23 a.m. when troopers pulled over a Dodge Durango driven by a 44-year-old Cave Junction woman on Caves Highway near Laurel Road. Troopers said they stopped the pickup for a traffic violation and the driver displayed signs of impairment. She performed poorly in sobriety tests and was taken to the Sobering Center where she provided a breath sample that was more than twice the legal driving limit. The third incident happened on Sunday at 12:11 p.m. when troopers pulled over a GMC Sierra driven by a 59-year-old woman in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 near milepost 64. Troopers said they received multiple driving complaints on the suspect vehicle, which they located on the shoulder of the freeway. The woman -- who showed signs of impairment -- said she ran out of gas. She performed poorly in sobriety tests and was taken to the Sobering Center where she provided a breath sample that was more than twice the legal limit.

Posted on 5/6/24 11:11AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Cited Motorist Who Crashed Vehicle on Highway 238 near Water Gap Road

The Oregon State Police cited a motorist who crashed his vehicle on Williams Highway in the northern Applegate Valley. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to a single-vehicle accident on Highway 238 near Water Gap Road on Saturday around 8:30 a.m.. Troopers said the 25-year-old driver of a Dodge Durango was driving too fast for the conditions and wrecked his vehicle with a trailer in tow. No one was injured. According to OSP, the driver was issued several traffic citations after the wreck. Bulldog Towing responded to pull the pickup and trailer out of the mud. Neither was towed and state property damage was reported to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Posted on 5/6/24 11:09AM by Sam Marsh

Search and Rescue Teams Looking for Mushroom Hunter at Lake of the Woods

Search and rescue teams from Jackson and Klamath counties were looking for a Ruch man who went missing while hunting for mushrooms near Lake of the Woods. In a Saturday afternoon press release, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office said it was searching for 56-year-old Gerald Severson who was last seen Thursday night near the lake in western Klamath County. Severson is described as a white male, 5-feet-4-inches tall and 140 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes. He was staying in a cabin on the east side of Lake of the Woods and left to search for mushrooms at about 7 p.m. Thursday. Search and rescue teams started searching for the man on Friday afternoon. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Gerald Severson is encouraged to call 9-1-1 immediately. The area where he was last seen is populated and has multiple roadways. It's possible he could have been picked up. Authorities were very concerned for the safety of Severson and the searchers as weather in the area over the weekend was very poor.

Posted on 5/6/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh

Motorist Seriously Hurt after Driving Vintage Vehicle over Embankment in Hugo

A motorist was seriously injured at the beginning of the weekend when they drove a vintage vehicle over an embankment in the Hugo area. Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle accident on private property in the 1400-block of Three Pines Road on Friday at 5:54 p.m.. Rural Metro officials said arriving units found a 1948 Austin A40 pickup around 50 feet down an embankment and against a tree. Preliminary information indicates someone drove the vehicle out of a garage on the property before losing control. Officials said the unidentified driver sustained serious injuries and was extricated from the vintage truck, which was heavily damaged. The patient was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of the mishap.

Posted on 5/6/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

Two Motorists Injured in Saturday Collision on Williams Highway near Murphy

Two motorists were hurt when their vehicles collided on Williams Highway near Murphy. Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Oregon State Police were dispatched to the two-vehicle crash on Highway 238 at Glenwood Street on Saturday at 2:09 p.m.. Rural Metro officials did not provide any details about the accident, but they said both drivers were transported to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Williams Highway traffic was detoured around side streets while the scene was active. OSP was investigating the cause of the crash that occurred on a stretch of road that is common for crashes.

Posted on 5/6/24 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

Trespassing Complaint at CJ Church Led to Capture of Washington Fugitive

A trespassing complaint at a Cave Junction church led to the apprehension of a fugitive wanted for escaping custody in Washington state. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted 38-year-old Kristle Lynne Smart at Immanuel Methodist Church on West Watkins Street in Cave Junction on Friday. Deputies said Smart was reported to be trespassing at the church and she was found to be wanted on a Washington Department of Corrections warrant for Escape from Community Custody. She was detained and then taken into custody. Smart was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. She was awaiting extradition proceedings that will likely send her back to Washington. She was also trespassed from the church for one year.

Posted on 5/6/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

IVFD Extinguished Illegal Open Burn on Caves Highway East of Cave Junction

The Illinois Valley Fire District extinguished an illegal open burn east of Cave Junction. On Saturday at 1:26 p.m., IVFD crews responded to the incident in the 3900-block of Caves Highway. Arriving units found a pile of trash on fire. Witnesses said one person was seen leaving the area and it appeared the home on the property was abandoned. The illegal burn was quickly put out. IVFD officials said the property owner will be receiving a citation as trash is never to be burned at any time.

Posted on 5/6/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

Spring Burn Window Open in City of GP, But Participants Need to Get Permit

The Spring Burn Window is open in the City of Grants Pass, but participants need to acquire a permit and check the weather conditions before burning natural debris. Grants Pass fire officials said the spring burn window started Saturday and it runs through next Sunday, May 12th. City residents can apply for their permits online or in person today through Friday at the Grants Pass Public Safety Station at 800 East Park Street. Burn permits are offered through Grants Pass Fire Community Connect at "sizeup.firstduesizeup.com/cc/grants/auth/signin." Log in and sign up for your permit. Permits are offered in person from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m.. Burning is only allowed if the DEQ Ventilation Index for the Grants Pass Airshed is 400 or greater. It is the responsibility of each person to check the airshed rating before burning. The most up-to-date airshed information is available by calling the Burn Line at (541)-476-9663 or (541)-476-WOOD. Press Option 3 after 7 a.m.. Burn information is also available daily on KAJO Radio often before 7 a.m..

Posted on 5/6/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

OHA Reports COVID-19 Hospitalizations are at Lowest Point in Nearly Four Years

New information released last week shows the number of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in Oregon at its lowest point since June 2020, dropping about 34% in April. Additionally, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital intensive care units is at its lowest point since April 2020. Oregon Health Authority data shows 82 adults were hospitalized with COVID-19 on April 30th, six of whom were in the ICU. Test percentage positivity was also at its lowest point (2.4%) since June 2020. OHA officials said COVID-19 is still out there and they expect case numbers to rise again, likely this fall and winter. However, overall community transmission is currently low. Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for OHA's communicable diseases and immunizations, said COVID-19 is still with us and will always be with us. But he thinks there is substantial immunity to a number of variants within our population, and many of us have been vaccinated repeatedly with different variations of the virus. The virus is also far less likely to cause death than it once was. OHA recommends everyone be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination. That includes people ages 65 and over getting a second dose of the 2023-24 vaccine.

Posted on 5/6/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Officers and Firefighters Logged another Productive Week of City Protection

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters held form last week as they protected the community. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 590 calls for service along with 256 officer-initiated calls that resulted in 51 arrests, 27 citations, 34 warnings and four highly intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 44 traffic stops in the city and they made 22 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 199 contacts with potential trouble-makers while arresting one person, citing 45 more and warning 83 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 26 individuals, posted 110 transient camps and removed trash from three campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 74 calls last week including 25 for emergency medical service, three for reports of fire or smoke, 10 lift assists, seven rescue situations, eight assists to other agencies and six false alarms. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 1,003 emergency calls last week.

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

Pacific Power Unveils New Optimal Time Rewards Program for Residential Customers

Pacific Power is offering a new energy program called "Optimal Time Rewards" for residential customers across Oregon and Washington to help them manage costs while creating a more resilient and sustainable grid. Participants in the Optimal Time Rewards program can earn incentives of up to $50 plus ongoing incentives by partnering with Pacific Power to more effectively manage spikes in demand and fluctuations of power supply. Optimal Time Rewards is one of a portfolio of energy efficiency and demand response programs, the utility is offering to help keep energy costs low for everyone through the use of smart technology. There are two ways to participate. Residential customers can enroll a smart thermostat connected to electric heating or cooling equipment. Customers in multi-family housing can also enroll an electric water heater. Residential customers who want to learn more about enrolling a smart thermostat can visit the Pacific Power Optimal Time Rewards website at "pacificpower.net/OTR."

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

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