KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Signups Underway for 2025 Grants Pass Citizens Police Academy Participation

It's time to sign up for the 2025 Grants Pass Citizens Police Academy. The Grants Pass Police Department holds a 12-week academy each year. It's designed to educate the public about GPPD and to provide citizens with an interactive opportunity to get to know the officers on a more personal level. Approximately 25 citizens will be allowed to attend on a first-come, first-served basis. The Academy will be held from August 26th to November 11th. Classes will be held every Tuesday from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Grants Pass Police Department or the Hillcrest Fire Station. Graduation will take place on Tuesday, November 11th. There will be four optional Saturday classes scheduled including Personal Safety, firearms, emergency vehicle operations and SDS practical application. You can stop by the GPPD Station at 727 NE 7th Street to pick up an application or visit "grantspassoregon.gov/249/Citizens-Police-Academy."

Posted on 6/18/25 5:40AM by Sam Marsh

Applications Still Available for Two Positions on GP Urban Tree Advisory Committee

Applications are being accepted for two positions on the Grants Pass Urban Tree Advisory Committee. These positions are for two-year terms. The purpose of this committee is to review, develop and implement programs and activities that promote, protect and enhance the urban forest as part of the Tree City USA program through the National Arbor Day Foundation. The special qualification for these positions is an interest in the promotion and enhancement of the urban forest in Grants Pass. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 3rd. Applications will be reviewed by the committee on Monday, July 14th. Appointments will be made by the Grants Pass City Council on Wednesday, August 6th.

Posted on 6/18/25 5:38AM by Sam Marsh

Board of Commissioners to Hold 5 Hearings on Library Annexations & Budgets

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold five public hearings during its weekly business session on Wednesday. The meeting was moved up one day this week in order to have a quorum. The first public hearing is for two annexation requests to the Josephine Community Library District while the other four are for consideration and approval of budgets. The first three budget hearings are for the Josephine County Rural Fire Protection District, Josephine County 4-H/Extension Service District and the Josephine County Law Enforcement Service District. The Commissioners will convene as the Board for each of the districts and will hear public comment before consideration. The fifth public hearing is on the Josephine County Budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year. After public comments, the Commissioners will consider resolutions for adopting the budget, making appropriations, and levying property tax rates and local option levy taxes as well as considering the supplemental budget for 2025. Under Administrative Actions, the Board is expected to approve the Special Election results for the Rural Fire Protection District. Tomorrow's public meeting starts at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 6/17/25 12:55PM by Sam Marsh

Elderly Williams Man in Critical Condition after Highway 238 Crash near Provolt

An elderly Williams man was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident on Highway 238 near Provolt yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle rollover crash near milepost 10 of Williams Highway shortly after 2 p.m. Monday. Troopers said the preliminary investigation indicated 87-year-old Bob Arthur Pleu was driving a Ford Econoline when he experienced a medical event that caused the minivan to leave the highway and roll over. According to OSP, Pleu was airlifted by Mercy Flights helicopter to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford where he was listed in critical condition late yesterday. OSP was assisted at the crash scene by the Williams Rural Fire Protection District, American Medical Response, Oregon Department of Transportation and 3 Boys Towing.

Posted on 6/17/25 10:34AM by Sam Marsh

Multiple Agencies Responded to Monday Morning Accident on Caves Highway

Multiple agencies responded to a motor vehicle accident in Cave Junction early yesterday. On Monday at 7:45 a.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon Department of Transportation were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash in the 800-block of Caves Highway. IVFD officials said one patient was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with unspecified injuries. They said a pre-existing medical condition appears to have preceded the incident.

Posted on 6/17/25 10:32AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested Wolf Creek Man for Violating Court Order in RR Area Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Wolf Creek man for violating a court order last night following a traffic stop near the City of Rogue River. According to OSP, state troopers pulled over a Mazda MZ3 driven by 40-year-old Sonny Hurt, II, on Foothill Boulevard near Dove Place on Monday at 7:41 p.m.. Troopers said they made the traffic stop after observing both parties of a no-contact order -- Hurt and a 31-year-old Grants Pass woman -- inside the car. They said the driver had a suspended license and the vehicle was impounded. After further investigation, troopers developed probable cause of Hurt tampering with a witness. Hurt was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court and two felony counts of Tampering with a Witness. He was being held without bail. The female passenger was the protected party and she was transferred to the care of family members.

Posted on 6/17/25 10:31AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Man for Destructive Behavior at The Lodge at Riverside

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for his destructive behavior at The Lodge at Riverside early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 31-year-old Ryan Kelly Hale at the riverfront motel on SE 7th Street on Monday around 10:30 a.m.. Police said the manager of Cartwright's Tap Rock NW Grill called 9-1-1 to report that Hale was throwing large rocks at the nearby motel before he crossed 7th Street and entered the restaurant parking lot. The caller said it appeared the man was having a mental breakdown and they wanted him trespassed from their property. Before officers arrived on scene, Hale fled under the 7th Street Bridge and that's where he was placed into custody. Hale was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on an out-of-county warrant. His corrections officer was contacted and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 6/17/25 10:29AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man on Local Warrant and for Violating Terms of Probation

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant and for violating terms of his probation yesterday in an encounter near the Parkway Public Safety Station. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 64-year-old Timothy Carl Ferguson at the intersection of the Grants Pass Parkway and East Park Street on Monday at 11:18 a.m.. Police said they observed Ferguson and knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Disorderly Conduct. After he was placed into custody, he made numerous statements about harming law enforcement once he was released from jail. Ferguson reportedly told the arresting officer that he would burn down his house, and drop rocks off overpasses onto police cars while wearing a black hoodie and riding around on a bicycle. He also mentioned going around town and cutting wires at buildings as a means to express his hatred toward everyone. Ferguson was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and the resulting Probation Violation. He was also flagged for his threats to local law enforcement and the community.

Posted on 6/17/25 10:28AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Passively Resistive Woman for Trespassing at Hospital ER

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for trespassing at Three Rivers Medical Center last night. GPPD reports officers responded to the incident at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue on Monday at 8:16 p.m.. Police said 39-year-old Abigail Reese Ozkan refused to leave the emergency room after being asked to do so by hospital staff. They said she was given warnings that she would be arrested if she did not leave the facility. She could not be reasoned with and chose to be arrested. That's when things got interesting. Ozkan passively resisted by sitting on the ground while holding her baby as a shield to make it so officers could not place her into custody. She eventually handed her baby to a friend who was seated next to her and was arrested. Ozkan was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

Posted on 6/17/25 10:26AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Drug Possession during City Park Patrol Check

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for drug possession during a patrol check at a city park early yesterday. According to GPPD, officers contacted Melissa Burger at Baker Park on Monday at 8:26 a.m.. Officers said when they contacted Burger, two glass pipes were in plain view. She admitted the pipes were hers and that she used them to smoke methamphetamine. She was cited to appear in court for Meth Possession and trespassed from the park for 30 days. Meanwhile, officers cited Gennette Hudgins and James Brockmann for Utilization of Space. They were warned that a second violation would result in park exclusion.

Posted on 6/17/25 10:25AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Woman for Causing Hellgate Jetboat Excursions Disruption

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for disrupting business at Hellgate Jetboat Excursions last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a disturbance involving 61-year-old Marjorie Rose Anderson near the business on SW 6th Street by Caveman Bridge on Sunday around 9:45 a.m.. Police said Anderson took a camera off the neck of a Hellgate employee who was taking photos of boat riders and threw it in the Rogue River. She told officers that the employee told her to remove the camera and throw it in the river, but the worker stated she said nothing to Anderson. The suspect was placed into custody. Anderson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 1st-Degree Theft and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/17/25 6:41AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Man for Causing 2 Sunday Disturbances at Baker Park

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing disturbances at a city park last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at Baker Park on Sunday shortly after 2 p.m.. Police said 42-year-old Caleb Neil Pratt had been called in for screaming and yelling at the park earlier in the day and he was warned for his bad behavior. A second caller reported that the screaming and yelling were continuing. They said he was threatening violence to others, stating "I'm going to kill the next person that looks at me." Officers responded again, contacted Pratt and placed him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 6/17/25 6:40AM by Sam Marsh

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