Local News

Day 2 of the Josephine County Fair will be "Rockin' the 90s" at the Fairgrounds in Grants Pass where the gates will be open between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. today. The featured entertainer at the Grandstand this evening will be legendary country music band Sawyer Brown. The 8 p.m. concert -- which is brought to you in part by KRRM Radio -- will be preceded by Cloverdayle at 6:30. The Evergreen Federal Pavilion Stage features Ventriloquist Vicki, Big Red Chicken Book Reading, Jim Lesher & The Western Express, and Twain Tribute. In addition to strolling acts on the Midway, today's entertainment includes exhibit halls, a Selfie Fair, Rockin' Rentals, Sea Lion Exhibit, Butterfly Encounter, Kidz Alley and Sea Lion Splash. The carnival is open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.. In the barns, you'll find lots of local kids with their swine, sheep, goats, market beef and poultry. Of course, there's always fantastic fair food vendors. Admission to the Fair is free and -- while paid parking on the grounds is limited -- there is free parking and a shuttle at Rogue Community College. For more information, visit "josephinecountyfairgrounds.com."

 

The Grants Pass City Council took steps Wednesday night during their regular Business session to move the homeless out of city parks and onto four designated city owned locations. The Council unanimously repealed parts of the Municipal code amended others dealing with camping in parks, criminal trespass on city property, prohibited camping, removal of campsites on public property and other sections pertaining to the unhoused population camping in city parks. No person may occupy a campsite consistent with the regulations in the city code in conjunction with Oregon State Statutes.The council then passed a resolution adopting allowable locations for camping on public property. The resolution identifying allowable locations for camping was passed. The four sites that were approved Riverside Park West, the southeast parcel, East Park Street property behind the Fire Station and the vacant lot at Sixth and A Street. Initially five sites were identified that included the Police expansion lot and the grass area at the Hillcrest Fire station. The Hillside Fire station area was determined to have important training aspects, so it was eliminated. The Sixth and A Street location is temporary pending the demolition of a building on the lot next to the Police expansion lot. Upon the completion of the demolition that location would replace the Sixth and A location. The City’s insurance will cover the camping locations at a premium of $5,000 annually per site. The addition of porta-Pottys, hand washing stations, dumpsters, fencing and two security trailer cameras bring the annual cost to $250,698.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning was convinced by a packed house of military veterans and their supporters to refer a ballot measure that would fund the Veterans Services Office to the November General Election. After nearly 90 minutes of public testimony, the Board voted 2-0 to approve a resolution to refer a five-year local option tax to voters on November 5th. Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger was absent. If approved, property owners will pay 5 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value each year -- or $15 annually for a property valued at $300,000. Numerous local veterans testified in support of moving the levy forward as opposed to placing an advisory question on the ballot and then postponing the levy until next May. Veterans Services Director Lisa Pickard said the funding will help stabilize the approximately 9,000 military veterans in Josephine County and remove the need to take money from the general fund that could be better spent on law enforcement. In other business, the Board approved an order that repeals policy and procedures for Commissioner liaisons for individual departments and advisory boards. Legal Counsel Stephanie Nutall said some department heads expressed concern about a lower level of specialized knowledge of specific departments. However, both Commissioners John West and Andreas Blech said the policy will likely be rewritten and revised in the near future. The Commissioners tabled another order dealing with the allocation of general fund dollars to county departments until next week. The Board also approved an order authorizing a Sheriff's Sale of county-owned properties for September 10th. Property Manager Helene Lulich said 11 properties that did not sell in the July sale can be acquired through sealed bids.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for allegedly beating up his girlfriend at a home in the northeast part of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance on NE Foothill Boulevard on Tuesday around 9 a.m.. Police said a 31-year-old male subject and his girlfriend got into a physical fight in the early morning hours when he reportedly shoulder-checked the woman, choked her and threw her around. The frightened victim fled to her mother's residence and called 9-1-1. The victim was not seriously injured and declined medical attention. Upon arrival, officers contacted the suspect and placed him into custody based on the victim's statements and visible injuries. The victim refused services from the Women's Crisis Support Team. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Domestic 4th-Degree Assault and Felony Domestic Strangulation. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Central Point woman for a felony-level drug crime last night following a Redwood Highway traffic stop near Selma. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Toyota Corolla driven by the 31-year-old woman near milepost 18 of US Highway 199 on Tuesday shortly after 10 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the car for traffic violations and the woman admitted to driving with a suspended license and no insurance. They said a plastic bag with a white crystal substance consistent with methamphetamine was clearly visible in an outside pocket of the driver's purse. She admitted the substance was meth. According to OSP, the substance was seized, tested, weighed and submitted to the crime lab which determined it was a criminal amount of narcotics. The suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance. She was being held without bail and her car was impounded for the moving violations.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating terms of his post-prison supervision after he left a mental health/drug treatment center without permission. According to the Police Department, officers located the 46-year-old male subject and placed him into custody at a market on Willow Lane near Redwood Highway on Tuesday at 7:17 a.m.. Police said the subject had absconded from Options Crisis Resolution Center on SW Ramsey Avenue the night before and they were notified early yesterday. An employee spotted the man in the Redwood area on his way to work and called it in. The suspect's corrections officer was notified and requested his client be arrested. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation and was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show the man has been arrested four times for violating his parole since February of this year.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local felony warrant while investigating a trespassing complaint yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a trespass call on railroad property in the city on Tuesday at 12:47 p.m.. Police said a 38-year-old male subject was one of three men spotted by a passing motorist. They said the men had established an encampment next to the railroad tracks. Upon contact, officers determined the male subject was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a past conviction for Attempt to Elude Police. He was immediately placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held on a no-bail detainer. His belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping. The two other men were trespassed from the railroad property, told to gather up their belongings and leave.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted a total of 16 campers for ordinance violations in city parks during patrol checks on Tuesday. At Fruitdale Park, a man was cited for Fentanyl Possession, a man and woman were cited for Misuse of Open Space and Illegal Camping, two men were cited for Illegal Camping and Scattering Rubbish, and a woman was cited for Misuse of Open Space and Illegal Camping. All six subjects were trespassed for 30 days. At Debo Park, a man and woman were cited for Misuse of Open Space and Scattering Rubbish. Both were issued 30-day exclusions. At Tussing Park, a man was cited for Misuse of Open Space and a woman was cited for Misuse of Open Space and Scattering Rubbish. Both were trespassed for 30 days. At Morrison Centennial Park, a man was cited for Misuse of Open Space and Staking a Tent, a woman was cited for Public Consumption of Alcohol and Inoperable Vehicle, a man was cited for Public Consumption of Alcohol and Buffer Zone Violation, a woman was cited for Misuse of Open Space and Buffer Zone Violation, and a man was cited for Misuse of Open Space. All five subjects were issued 30-day exclusions. At Riverside Park, a man was cited for Public Consumption of Alcohol and Nuisance Dog. He and his dog were trespassed for 30 days.

 

Two men were in custody and authorities were looking for two more people after a suspected butane honey oil (BHO) lab explosion destroyed a building in the Glendale area last weekend. On Saturday at about 9 p.m., detectives with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) investigated a suspicious structure fire that had occurred earlier in the day in the 1400-block of Tunnel Road. The structure fire was initially reported to 9-1-1 at 4:15 p.m. Saturday at which time Glendale Fire responded and prevented the fire from spreading. The 1,500-square-foot general purpose building was a total loss. Nearby residences and the surrounding forest were under threat during the height of the incident. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office also responded and notified DINT that the fire was likely caused by an illegal BHO lab. Detectives obtained a search warrant and found evidence indicating this was a suspected marijuana extraction lab and production facility. Two men -- 38-year-old Christopher Drezek of Glendale and 35-year-old Kendall Jorgensen of Ashland -- were uninjured in the explosion. Two persons of interest fled the scene prior to the arrival of first responders. There were no permits in place allowing the location to be a marijuana production facility of any kind. DINT is actively seeking the whereabouts of the two persons who fled the scene. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated.