Local News

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners should make quick work out of a very light agenda for its weekly business session this morning. The only Administrative Action item is consideration of an invoice from the O&C Counties, with Josephine County charged $68,642.40 for annual membership dues. The Association of O&C Counties represents 18 counties in western Oregon that host 2.1 million acres of timberlands once privately owned as part of a grant in exchange for construction of a railroad in the late 1800s, but that were returned to federal ownership in 1916. The association is committed to the economic and social well-being of local communities as well as the health and productivity of federal Oregon & California Railroad lands. It advocates for sustained yield management of the O&C forests, as required by federal law, to protect and support jobs and local economies, essential public services and healthy, resilient forests. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens in which people are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Rogue River City Council will consider several resolutions and one ordinance during its regular meeting tonight. The City Council will open the meeting with Committee Reports, Public Input and by administering the Oath of Office to Rogue River Patrol Officer Chad Mathews. The first resolution under consideration is to recertify reserve funds for the next fiscal year. The second resolution would certify municipal services provided by the City of Rogue River for the next fiscal year. The third would declare the City's election to receive state revenue sharing funds for the next fiscal year. Next up are resolutions that would authorize funds used in financial management; to adopt the budget, make appropriations and levy taxes for the next fiscal year; update job descriptions for the Rogue River Police Department; and increase business license fees to generate revenue for continued law enforcement services. The lone ordinance would change the business license term from a fiscal year to a rolling calendar year. In other business, the panel will consider a six-year contract for records systems software for the Police Department. Tonight's meeting starts at 6 at Rogue River City Hall, 133 Broadway Street.

 

The Oregon State Police has released information on a fatal crash that occurred earlier this week on Redwood Highway near Cave Junction. On Monday at 10:48 a.m., OSP and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of US Highway 199 and Waldamar Road. State troopers said the preliminary investigation indicated a Toyota Corolla driven by 24-year-old Hunter Lee Bryant of Cave Junction was eastbound on Waldamar when he failed to obey a stop sign and entered the highway. A southbound GMC Yukon driven by 59-year-old Scott Adam Seaman of Selma struck the driver-side door of the Toyota. Bryant was declared deceased at the scene while Seaman sustained minor injuries. Redwood Highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

The Grants Pass City Council last night took no definitive action on a resolution that would boost the salary schedules for 51 non-bargaining employees. Instead, the City Council voted unanimously to create a short-term task force to look at the proposed raises that would affect various department budgets in the amount of approximately $1.3 million for the next fiscal year. Councilor Rob Pell made the motion to create the task force after a public hearing in which citizens testified strongly against the pay raises. Councilor Indra Nicholas seconded Pell's motion and the vote was 8-0. The motion was amended to have the city consultant act as a facilitator for the task force, which will likely be composed of two Council members and two citizens. Prior to the vote, Pell said putting the salary adjustments on the Consent Calendar in March was a "giant mistake" and added that 100% of the emails he has received from his constituents were against the pay raises.

 

The 66th Annual Boatnik Festival begins this afternoon when the Davis Shows Carnival opens at Riverside Park in Grants Pass. City of Grants Pass and Grants Pass Active Club officials are advising the public that parking and traffic will be impacted at various times around the city park until late Monday afternoon. East Park Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 6 a.m. Friday until Monday at 9 p.m.. Vehicles with a Boatnik parking permit or a disabled parking permit will only be allowed to enter East Park Street via the Parkway entrance. For the Boatnik Parade on Saturday, 6th Street will be closed to all vehicle traffic from A Street to Caveman Bridge. The road closure will be from 8 a.m. until after the parade at approximately 1 p.m.. During the parade, traffic will be diverted from 6th and A streets to Beacon Drive and then onto the Grants Pass Parkway. Traffic can then divert onto the Parkway or to Interstate 5. For more details, visit "boatnik.com."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners should make quick work out of a very light agenda for tomorrow's weekly business session. The only Administrative Action item is consideration of an invoice from the O&C Counties, with Josephine County charged $68,642.40 for annual membership dues. The Association of O&C Counties represents 18 counties in western Oregon that host 2.1 million acres of timberlands once privately owned as part of a grant in exchange for construction of a railroad in the late 1800s, but that were returned to federal ownership in 1916. The association is committed to the economic and social well-being of local communities as well as the health and productivity of federal Oregon & California Railroad lands. It advocates for sustained yield management of the O&C forests, as required by federal law, to protect and support jobs and local economies, essential public services and healthy, resilient forests. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens in which people are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Thursday's public meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for felony robbery and other crimes after he threatened two women with a weapon at a northwest city park last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a disturbance at Ogle Park on NW Washington Boulevard late last Saturday night. Police said an investigation revealed that 58-year-old Baron Carter Messier was angry because he had given money to two females to purchase methamphetamine for him. When neither the money nor the narcotics were delivered, he went to the park armed with a machete and demanded the return of his money. During the confrontation, Messier was disarmed -- but he punched one of the women in the eye and attempted to hit both women with a section of pipe. No one was seriously injured. Messier was arrested and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Felony 1st-Degree Robbery, two counts of Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, two counts of Menacing and one count of 4th-Degree Assault.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Wolf Creek man while investigating a rolling domestic assault call in south Grants Pass late yesterday. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Mazda MZ3 driven by 40-year-old Sonny Hurt, II, near the intersection of Redwood and Rogue River highways on Tuesday at 4:28 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Hurt to investigate possible domestic violence that occurred between the male driver and 31-year-old female passenger. They said they also observed some traffic violations. Upon looking into the matter, troopers developed probable cause to arrest Hurt for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. Upon being notified that he was under arrest, Hurt resisted being placed into custody and had to be overpowered by law enforcement. Hurt was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest, Contempt of Court and the assault charge. He was being held without bail. The vehicle was impounded and two cats were taken to the Josephine County Animal Shelter.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving while investigating a possible domestic violence incident at the Williams Highway Plaza late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to several calls regarding a male and female who appeared to be fighting in a Dodge sedan parked near Safeway on Tuesday at 5:40 p.m.. Police said callers reported that the male driver -- later identified as 60-year-old Clint Edward Robertson -- appeared to be intoxicated and his female passenger -- identified as "Melody Hefner" -- was yelling for others to call 9-1-1. According to the report, Hefner did not want to call 9-1-1 herself because she knew Robertson would be arrested. Officers said Robertson was still in the driver's seat when they contacted him and he displayed obvious signs of impairment. They said was unable to safely perform field sobriety tests as he could barely stand up. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. GPPD was aware of a history of domestic violence between Robertson and Hefner, so they contacted the Women's Crisis Support Team to assist her.