Local News

The Grants Pass City Council approved a $255.2 million budget for the 2025 Fiscal Year during its Wednesday night business session. The City Council also approved a resolution declaring the city's election to receive state-shared revenues. City Council President Vanessa Ogier filled in for an absent Mayor Sara Bristol. In other business, the Council approved the vacation of a property line on tax lots 1008 and 1009 on SE Demi Court. Both lots are owned by the same individual, with the intention of developing a new residential accessory structure. Logan Werner was appointed to the Grants Pass Urban Tree Advisory Committee. The Council then moved to public comment and -- following discussions held during the Monday workshop -- limited individual time for comments to two minutes. The Business Session was adjourned at 6:48 p.m. and Councilors reconvened as the Urban Renewal Agency. The URA approved a grant for restoration, rehabilitation and restoration for a property located at 245 SE G Street. The URA then adjourned and reconvened again as the City Council to adjourn the meeting at 7:02 p.m..

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved the second reading and adopted an ordinance creating a permanent funding mechanism for the Fairgrounds. Following a public hearing in which there was no public comment, the Board voted unanimously to amend the Josephine County Code by adding a chapter that pertains to the Fairgrounds Permanent Fund. County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that the fund was created after the sale of The Flying Lark to River Valley Community Church for $9.5 million. He said $9 million of the proceeds will be kept in an interest-bearing account from which the Fairgrounds can borrow money for projects, equipment and other expenses. The money must be paid back to the account, which will be administered by the Board of Commissioners and the Fair Board. The Commissioners opened the meeting with the annual presentation of the Raskin Awards to Shelter Friends and Dr. Rebecca Cross-Hall of Riverside Veterinary Clinic.

 

The Oregon Department of Transportation has a "big" construction project ready to go beginning this summer in northwest Medford. The Big X Intersection Project will replace the asphalt, update the ADA ramps, and improve bicycle and pedestrian connections leading through the four-way intersection of Oregon Highways 99, 238 and 62. The Big X intersection is on Highway 99 between Table Rock Road and Ohio Street, Highway 238 west to North Ross Lane and Highway 62 east to the Biddle Road overpass. ODOT officials said the work will extend the life of the roadways and bridges as well as improve the safety for bicyclists and pedestrians in the area. The construction contract has been awarded to Knife River Materials. The project is scheduled to begin this summer and run through winter 2025. ODOT anticipates night construction with flaggers, lane closures and reduced lanes.

 

The Grants Pass City Council’s Wednesday night business session began with Council President Vanessa Ogier filling in for Mayor Sara Bristol. The Council quickly approved the City’s balanced budget for fiscal year 2025 for a total expenditure of $255,198,739 and appropriations. Councilors also approved a resolution declaring the City’s election to receive state shared revenues The council approved the vacation of a property line on tax lots 1008 and 1009 on Southeast Demi Court. Both lots are owned by the same individuals with the intention of developing a new residential accessory structure. Logan Werner was appointed to the Urban Tree Advisory Committee. The Council then moved to public comment and, following discussions held during the Monday workshop, limited individual time for comment to two minutes. Several agenda items were moved to the Council’s June 19th meeting. The Business Session was adjourned at 6:48 and Councilors reconvened as the Urban Renewal Agency. The Agency approved awarding a grant for restoration, rehabilitation and restoration grants for the property located at 245 Southeast ‘G’ Street.

 

A Grants Pass man was killed when he crashed his vehicle on Redwood Highway at Hayes Hill earlier this week. The Oregon State Police reported today that troopers and emergency personnel were dispatched to the single-vehicle accident near milepost 16 of US Highway 199 on Monday at 7:08 p.m.. OSP said the preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Dodge Ram 1500 driven by 28-year-old Brandon Richard Cain failed to negotiate a curve, left the highway and struck a tree on the southbound shoulder. Troopers said Cain was declared deceased at the scene. They said excessive speed is considered to be the primary factor in the crash. According to OSP, Redwood Highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted at the fatal crash scene by Rural Metro Fire Department, Illinois Valley Fire District and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning adopted an ordinance creating a permanent funding mechanism for the Fairgrounds. Following a public hearing in which there was no public comment, the Board voted unanimously to amend the Josephine County Code by adding a chapter that pertains to the Fairgrounds Permanent Fund. County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that the fund was created after the sale of The Flying Lark to River Valley Community Church for $9.5 million. He said $9 million of the proceeds will be kept in an interest-bearing account from which the Fairgrounds can borrow money for projects, equipment and other expenses. The money must be paid back to the account, which will be administered by the Board of Commissioners and the Fair Board. The Commissioners opened the meeting with the annual presentation of the Raskin Awards, which are given to groups and individuals for their outstanding support of the Josephine County Animal Shelter. This year, Raskin Awards were presented to Shelter Friends and Dr. Rebecca Cross-Hall of Riverside Veterinary Clinic.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a resident of an assisting living center for threatening employees with a hammer early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 52-year-old man for the incident that occurred at The Bridge Retirement and Assisting Living Center on SW Bridge Street on Tuesday shortly after 8 a.m.. Police said the man felt staff members were laughing at him following a series of mornings that made him increasingly upset about violations of the noise curfew at the facility. They said he retrieved a hammer from his room, walked upstairs and proceeded to yell threatening profanities throughout the facility, telling staff he was going to be "smashing faces." The incident was seen on video surveillance. According to the report, frightened staff members locked themselves in a room to avoid being hit with the hammer and then called 9-1-1. Responding officers seized the hammer as evidence and placed the suspect into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Misdemeanor Menacing. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for possession of a stolen motorcycle frame and narcotics during a welfare check at a downtown supermarket last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to perform a welfare check on a 38-year-old male subject in the parking lot of Safeway on SE 7th Street at about 6:40 p.m. Tuesday. The man was slumped over in a parked pickup truck. Police said they contacted the man in the driver's seat of the pickup with drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view. A consent search uncovered approximately four grams of methamphetamine that was seized. Further investigation located a Harley Davidson frame in the truck bed that had been reported stolen. Officers said the man admitted to knowing the frame was "probably" stolen as he got it for free. It was recovered and the registered owner was notified. It had been listed as stolen by the California Highway Patrol. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Possession of Methamphetamine. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client on an outstanding warrant late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were summoned to the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Tuesday around 4:55 p.m.. Police said they were told a 30-year-old male subject was there to meet with his corrections officer and that he was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. Officers contacted the subject in the lobby and placed him into custody, lodging him at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was set to be transferred to the Jackson County Jail in Medford.