KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Deputies Jailed Duo for Stealing Items from Tractors at Foothill Boulevard Farm

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed two men early yesterday for stealing items off tractors at a farm located just east of Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 31-year-old Kody Tyler Halverson and 48-year-old Demetrius Elward Hughes for the incident in the 3300-block of Foothill Boulevard on Thursday around 10:45 a.m.. Deputies said the property owner called 9-1-1 to report two male subjects stealing stuff from his tractors. The caller said it was an ongoing issue as the two men kept coming back to his farm. He advised he had just spotted them out in his field. Upon arrival, deputies placed Halverson and Hughes into custody, stating that one of them was trying to hide. Halverson and Hughes were both lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of 2nd-Degree Theft, Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. It was unclear in the report if the stolen items were recovered. Halverson was additionally charged with Felony Parole Violation and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 12/6/24 11:43AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Incarcerated Pair for Thursday Theft and Littering on Rural Property

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two men for theft and littering on a rural property yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies were performing a patrol check on the "211 Spur" near a local waterway around midday Thursday when they observed 25-year-old Gage Dwayne Wilson and 38-year-old Morefire Zyerin Stilke. Details of the incident were not disclosed, but the theft of a Predator Generator and littering were mentioned in the report. The two suspects were placed into custody. Wilson and Stilke were transported to the Josephine County Jail where they were booked on identical charges of 1st-Degree Theft, Theft-by-Receiving, Offensive Littering and Littering within 100 Yards of a Waterway. Both men were being held without bail.

Posted on 12/6/24 11:41AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Uncooperative Young Driver for DUII+ after Crash on NE A

Grants Pass Police arrested an uncooperative young motorist for impaired driving and other crimes late yesterday after he crashed into a parked vehicle on NE A Street. The Police Department reports officers responded to the two-vehicle collision on NE A near the Pinnacle 365 store on Thursday shortly before 6 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined that a 19-year-old male subject was driving a black BMW west on A when he struck the rear-end of a silver Chevrolet sedan, pushing the parked sedan up onto the sidewalk, causing substantial damage to both vehicles and damaging a flower bed belonging to A Street Dental. A medic who also responded to the crash advised the young driver appeared to be highly intoxicated. The driver refused to provide a breath sample, so a search warrant for a legal blood draw was obtained and he was placed into a patrol vehicle for the ride to Three Rivers Medical Center. The suspect then spit on the back seat of the patrol car, kicked the windows, and flung dirt and debris inside the car. After a blood sample was taken at the hospital, the young driver agreed to submit a breath sample -- but he immediately changed his mind and requested an attorney. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was also cited for the breath test refusal and his car was impounded.

Posted on 12/6/24 11:39AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Motorist for DUII after Two-Vehicle Collision on NW Vine

Grants Pass Police arrested an adult motorist for impaired driving last night after he crashed into another vehicle in the north part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the two-vehicle wreck in the 2,000-block of NW Vine Street near Li'l Pantry Market & Deli on Thursday around 10:15 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined that a black BMW 430 driven by a 62-year-old male subject pulled out in front of a black Jeep Wrangler that was heading south on Vine. They said the front driver-side of the BMW impacted the corner of the Jeep, causing damage to both vehicles. No injuries were reported. Upon contact with the BMW driver, officers noticed strong signs of impairment. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was detained at the scene. Officers said he failed to yield to the Jeep while pulling out from the parking lot of a bar. The suspect was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Failure to Yield While Entering Roadway. He was cited to appear in court and released, but his damaged BMW was towed to a local impound yard.

Posted on 12/6/24 11:38AM by Sam Marsh

Troopers Arrested GP Man on Local Warrant after Contact at Local OSP Office

State troopers arrested a Grants Pass man on an outstanding warrant after a contact at the Oregon State Police station in the north part of the city yesterday. According to OSP, 29-year-old Richard David Kirman came into the patrol office on NE 7th Street on Thursday at about 2:15 p.m.. Troopers said while Kirman was completing some unspecified paperwork, they discovered that he was wanted on a local warrant for Disorderly Conduct. No other details about the alleged crime were disclosed. Kirman was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrant. He was initially lodged without bail, but he has since been cited to appear in court and released.

Posted on 12/6/24 11:36AM by Sam Marsh

Authorities Seek Public Help in Finding Missing Runaway Grants Pass Teenager

UPDATE: MISSING TEENAGER HAS BEEN LOCATED.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was seeking public assistance in finding a teenage runaway who has not been seen by her family since last weekend. Sheriff's officials said 16-year-old Karrie Knox was reported missing late Saturday after she was seen by her mother at their residence in the Redwood area of Grants Pass that morning. Knox is described as white female juvenile, 5-feet-10-inches tall and 145 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing red sweatpants, a black hoodie and black shoes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Karrie Knox is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

Posted on 12/6/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Motorist for Weapon and Drug Crimes after North City Stop

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for weapon and drug crimes following a traffic stop in the north part of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a Ford Explorer driven by 36-year-old Bryan William Suthann near the corner of NE 7th Street and Manzanita Avenue on Thursday just after midnight. Police said they stopped Suthann for expired registration tags and they noticed a large amount of marijuana between his legs. His female passenger advised the Explorer was her vehicle and she had just purchased it from her mother. However, there was no registration or proof of insurance in the SUV and neither the driver nor the passenger had a valid driver's license. Suthann was detained for having over a pound of marijuana and he admitted to having a butterfly knife in his possession as well. He was also found to be in possession of multiple syringes, baggies with methamphetamine residue and a glass pipe. All the items were seized for destruction. Suthann was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, Unlawful Possession of More Than One Pound of Marijuana and Methamphetamine Possession. He was also cited and warned for the traffic violations. The SUV was impounded.

Posted on 12/6/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

Two GP Residents Hurt When Their Vehicles Collided in the New Hope Area

Two Grants Pass residents were injured this week when their vehicles collided in the New Hope area. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle crash at the intersection of New Hope and Stringer Gap roads on Wednesday at 6:11 p.m.. Troopers said a Ford Bronco driven by a 54-year-old woman was traveling east on Stringer Gap Road when it failed to stop at the stop sign and T-boned a northbound GMC Terrain driven by a 48-year-old woman. Both drivers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment. A 48-year-old male passenger in the GMC was not hurt. Both heavily-damaged vehicles required towing. Following an investigation, the driver of the Ford was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device. Troopers said it was foggy at the time of the crash.

Posted on 12/6/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

Authorities Investigating Cause of Structure Fire that Destroyed IV House

Authorities were investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a home near Takilma this week. On Wednesday night, the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 1,000-block of Queen of Bronze Road. Upon arrival, emergency units encountered a fully-involved residential structure. IVFD officials said the fire was fully suppressed and overhaul operations were completed, but the house was completely destroyed. No injuries were reported, but the American Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to one adult occupant. Rural Metro Fire Department initiated a response to the fire, but the request was cancelled and their units were redeployed to their designated service area.

Posted on 12/6/24 6:27AM by Sam Marsh

Salvation Army Faces Red Kettle Crisis and Shortage Threatens Services

The familiar sound of bells ringing outside stores during the holidays is at risk of being silenced this year. The Salvation Army in Grants Pass and Medford is facing a critical shortage of volunteers for its annual Red Kettle Campaign and the impact could be devastating for local families in need. Without enough volunteers to staff kettle stands, the funds raised to support vital programs and services will fall short. The donations collected through the kettles provide essential services including food, shelter and assistance for individuals and families struggling to make ends meet. Last year, donations from the Red Kettle Campaign supported some 7,000 local families with critical services. Without more volunteers, many kettles will sit unmanned, leaving those donations -- and the hope they bring -- uncollected. With just a few hours of your time, you can make a huge difference for those in need. Sign up now at "RegisterToRing.com" or call the Salvation Army in Grants Pass or Medford to lend a hand.

Posted on 12/6/24 6:25AM by Sam Marsh

Options for Purchasing Christmas Tree Permits Across Southern Oregon

For many families, venturing out onto public lands to cut a Christmas tree is annual holiday tradition. The process of obtaining permits differs a bit by agency, but families are able to cut Christmas trees on US Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management lands using a permit from either agency. Permits for Christmas trees are $5 per tree, with a limit of five tree permits per household. The permits can only be used on those lands open to Christmas tree harvesting that are administered by the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest or Medford District of the BLM. There are a number of options by which the public can obtain permits. They can be purchased at Forest Service and BLM offices, with the exception of the Wild Rivers Ranger District Office in Cave Junction. Forest Service-issued Christmas tree permits are available for purchase online at "recreation.gov." To purchase a permit, visit the site and search for Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Christmas Tree Permits. They are $5 per tree with a $2.50 processing fee added on per order. Many local businesses across southwest Oregon are selling Christmas tree permits. The current vendor list is available on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest website at "tinyurl.com/4krdamye." Call the vendor first to see if they're available.

Posted on 12/6/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

Library Hosting Author Talk & Book-Signing Featuring GP Native Basker

Citizens are invited to meet author and Grants Pass native James Basker for a book talk at the Grants Pass branch of Josephine Community Library this weekend. The signing of Basker's Library of America book "Black Writers of the Founding Era" is set for Sunday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the branch located at 200 NW C Street. Featuring more than 120 writers, this anthology reveals the Black experience in the turbulent decades of the American Revolution and shines a spotlight on both enslaved and free individuals -- men and women, loyalists and patriots, Northerners and Southerners. The book includes contributions from soldiers, sailors, painters, poets, preachers, cooks, farmers and artisans. "Black Writers of the Founding Era" can be placed on hold for checkout at the library in various formats. James Basker is president and CEO of the Gilder Lehrman Institute and Richard Gilder Professor of Literary History at Barnard College, Columbia University. He is a proud graduate of Grants Pass High School. For more information about library programs and services, call (541)-476-0571, visit "josephinelibrary.org" or email "info@josephinelibrary.org."

Posted on 12/6/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

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